easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: That their laser printer is producing faint,…
A user reports that their laser printer is producing faint, streaky prints and has a strong ozone smell. The printer has been in use for three years. What is the most important safety procedure to follow before attempting to service the printer?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between troubleshooting steps and mandatory safety procedures, trapping candidates who confuse cleaning or replacing parts with the prerequisite of power isolation and discharge.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Unplug the printer and discharge the high-voltage power supply.
The strong ozone smell indicates a high-voltage issue, likely with the corona wire or power supply. Before servicing, you must unplug the printer and discharge the high-voltage power supply to prevent electric shock, as laser printers store lethal voltages in capacitors even when powered off.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the toner cartridge immediately.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the toner cartridge addresses a potential print quality issue, such as faded output or streaks, but it completely fails to mitigate any immediate safety hazard. This action does not de-energize or discharge the high-voltage components within the laser printer, such as the fuser assembly or transfer corona, which can retain dangerous electrical charges even after the printer is turned off. Prioritizing personal safety by ensuring the device is electrically safe is always the critical first step before performing internal maintenance.
- ✓
Unplug the printer and discharge the high-voltage power supply.
Why this is correct
This is the paramount safety procedure when working inside a laser printer. Laser printers utilize high-voltage components, such as the fuser assembly and transfer corona, which can store dangerous electrical charges in capacitors even after the device is powered down. Unplugging the printer removes the primary power source, and discharging the high-voltage power supply ensures that residual charges are safely dissipated, preventing severe electric shock during subsequent troubleshooting or maintenance.
- ✗
Clean the corona wire with isopropyl alcohol.
Why it's wrong here
While cleaning the corona wire is a valid maintenance procedure to resolve certain print quality issues, such as streaking or light prints, it is not the initial action to take when a potential safety hazard involving high voltage is present. Furthermore, attempting to clean a high-voltage component without first de-energizing and discharging the printer introduces additional risks. This step should only be performed after ensuring the printer is safely powered off and discharged to prevent electric shock.
- ✗
Reset the printer to factory defaults.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting a printer to factory defaults primarily clears configuration settings, network parameters, and stored print jobs, returning the device to its original software state. This action does not physically interact with or discharge the internal high-voltage power supply or other electrical components. Therefore, it offers no protection against potential electric shock hazards and is entirely irrelevant to ensuring technician safety when dealing with internal hardware issues that might involve residual electrical charges.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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