This is all done within the printers software and this is where the software utility plays it's part.Here is the link to Reset the Epson Waste Ink Counter. The actual printer does not have a sensor but usually it basis its calculations on the number of pages printed. The Solution to Resetting the Ink Waste PadThe first thing you should know is that when the printer indicates that the pad is full usually they are only about half full so the waste pad itself does not need replacing. The printer basically goes into the highest resolution Photo Print mode and squirts a load of ink straight out of the print head and into the waste pad below. Most Epson Printer owners will be very aware of the massive amounts of ink this process uses. This automatic cleaning cycle occurs almost every time you turn your printer ON and it's purpose is to keep the microscopic holes in the print head clear of dried ink.Epson Printers use a piezo print head which can clog quite easily if this cleaning process doesn't occur often enough. The waste pad is basically a large foam sponge sitting inside of a plastic container and it absorbs all of the wasted ink which gets pumped through the printer.During a print head cleaning cycle large amounts of ink get pumped through the print head and deposited straight onto the ink waste pad. What Causes the Waste Pad Error to Occur?All inkjet printers use some kind of waste pad which is situated underneath the print head. The only way this can be achieved is by downloading a suitable Software Reset Utility which when launched will reset the counter and get your printer up and running again. Providing it was a cheaper model.Has your Epson Printer stopped printing due to the Ink Waste Pad being full? This is a common problem and the only solution is to reset the Ink Waste Pad Counter. From a service point of view, the labor to fix this if you brought it into my shop would be more than a new printer. ($50-$60) Personally, I would get another printer instead of trying to fix it. It's impossible for me to walk you through this, but if you want to try, now you know what to look for. you may be able to see the sensor with a flashlight. Look into the slot where you feed the paper in.

IF you are mechanical and want to give it a try, just be careful and remember where everything goes. If I remember correctly it is quite a pain to get the sensor back where it belongs. Therefore it sees that the sensor is not functioning properly, giving you a fatal error.

What happens when you do this, is you actually pull the paper sensor out of it's cradle.

When you un-jam the paper, I'm guessing you pulled it out the way it went in. I use to see this weekly from people that had a paper jam. All lights flashing is called a 'Fatal Error' This is PER EPSON.

Epson l1800 waste ink pad reset