What Ink Does the HP DesignJet T520 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the HP DesignJet T520 uses HP 711 ink — four cartridges — plus a separate HP 711 printhead (C1Q10A), which is its own user-replaceable part.
The expensive mistake is HP 712. It looks like the same cartridge and it is not: 712 fits the newer DesignJet T210, T230, T250, T630 and T650. The T120 and T520 are the HP 711 machines. Also watch for HP 728, which belongs to the T730 and T830 — the T830 is the scanner-equipped plotter people most often confuse with this class.
HP DesignJet T520 ink at a glance
| Item | Family | Part Number | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | HP 711 | CZ129A | 38 ml |
| Black (large) | HP 711 | CZ133A | 80 ml |
| Cyan | HP 711 | CZ130A | 29 ml |
| Magenta | HP 711 | CZ131A | 29 ml |
| Yellow | HP 711 | CZ132A | 29 ml |
| Cyan 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ134A | 29 ml each |
| Magenta 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ135A | 29 ml each |
| Yellow 3-pack | HP 711 | CZ136A | 29 ml each |
| Printhead kit | HP 711 | C1Q10A | — |
Large-format ink is sold by volume rather than page yield. HP's only published guidance for this class is around 20 ml per 101 A1 pages, which includes what the maintenance routines consume. Black comes in 38 ml and 80 ml; on a plotter doing drawings, the 80 ml is almost always the right choice.
The printhead is a consumable
The T520 uses a single user-replaceable printhead for all four colors, kit C1Q10A. HP calls it long-life and designed to last the life of the printer, and publishes no replacement schedule — you replace it on failure or when cleaning cannot recover print quality.
Set expectations before you buy one, though. "Missing or failed printhead" on the T520 is a well-documented error on HP's own community, and owners have replaced C1Q10A only to see the same message return — experienced responders point to the carriage board or main board instead. Update the firmware and restart the printhead replacement routine first; those cost nothing.
Castle Ink recommendation
- HP 711XL 5-Pack (2 black plus cyan, magenta, yellow) — $80.95
- HP 711 80 ml Black (CZ133A) — $16.99
- HP 711 29 ml Cyan (CZ130A) — $14.99
- HP 711 29 ml Magenta (CZ131A)
- HP 711 29 ml Yellow (CZ132A)
All carry OEM chips so the plotter reads ink levels properly. We stock the ink but not the C1Q10A printhead — if yours has genuinely failed, that comes from HP or a large-format parts supplier.
About the HP DesignJet T520
The step up from the T120, and available in both 24-inch and 36-inch widths. Print only, no scanner. Around 35 seconds per A1 page and roughly 70 A1 prints an hour — double the T120 — with 1 GB of memory against the T120's 256 MB, and print resolution up to 2400 by 1200 dpi. Connectivity is 100Base-T Ethernet, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi.
HP has superseded it, but HP 711 is still widely stocked and these plotters stay in service for years in design and construction offices.
Common problems on this model
"Missing or failed printhead"
The headline fault on the T520. Before buying parts: update the firmware, then remove and reseat the printhead with clean contacts, then re-run the printhead replacement routine from the front panel. If a new printhead does not clear it, the fault is upstream in the carriage or main board rather than the head itself.
"There is a problem with the printer or ink system"
Same family of causes. Check each cartridge is fully seated, contacts clean, then firmware. This message can be spurious, so do not condemn the machine on it alone.
Roll jams and skewed loading
Almost always a roll that is not seated tightly on the spindle, or a leading edge that is not cut square. Both are quick to fix and both cause repeat jams if ignored.
Banding, blurred lines or color inaccuracy
Run the printhead cleaning routine, then a printhead alignment, then a color calibration for the specific media loaded. On a plotter, calibration per media type matters far more than on a desktop printer.
FAQ
What ink does the HP DesignJet T520 use?
HP 711 in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, plus the HP 711 printhead kit C1Q10A.
Does the T520 use HP 712?
No. HP 712 fits the T210, T230, T250, T630 and T650.
Does the T520 take the same ink as the T120?
Yes. Both are HP 711 machines with the same C1Q10A printhead. The T520 is faster and available in 36-inch as well as 24-inch.
What about HP 727 or HP 728?
HP 727 fits the T920, T930, T1500 and T2500. HP 728 fits the T730 and T830. Neither fits a T520.
Is there a page yield for HP 711?
Not in the way there is for desktop cartridges. Large-format ink is sold by volume — 29 ml colors and 38 or 80 ml black.
Shop HP 711 now
The 711XL 5-pack is the practical restock. Different plotter? Find yours on our Find Ink by Printer page.
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