canon pixma tr8620a power usage seems high, is 7 watts when printing normal?

Diagnosis

The power consumption of 7 watts during an active print cycle on the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is actually on the lower end of the operational spectrum and is considered normal. To understand why, you must look at the mechanical load of an All-in-One (AiO) device. Unlike a dedicated single-function printer, the TR8620a maintains a complex internal architecture that includes a flatbed scanner assembly, an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), a wireless network card (Wi-Fi), and a thermal inkjet print head. When the printer is active, the power draw spikes to move the carriage assembly (the rail that holds the ink cartridges) across the page and to drive the paper feed rollers. The 7-watt figure represents the baseline operational load. If you are seeing this number on a smart plug or power monitor, you are seeing the energy required to maintain the logic board's state while simultaneously powering the stepper motors. If the wattage remains at 7W or higher even when the printer is completely idle, you likely have a "wake-lock" issue where a network ping or a stuck print queue is preventing the device from entering its deep-sleep state (which should be roughly 0.8W to 1.2W).

How to Fix It

To optimize the power profile of your TR8620a and ensure it is not drawing unnecessary current, follow these precise configuration steps to force the device into its lowest possible power state:

1. Enable Auto Power Off: On the printer's home screen, navigate to the Setup (gear icon) menu. Select Device Settings > Eco settings > Auto power off. Set this to 2 hours or 4 hours. This ensures the printer completely shuts down the power rails if left unattended.
2. Configure Energy Saving Mode: In the same Eco settings menu, locate Energy saving. Ensure this is set to "Enabled." This allows the LCD screen to dim and the wireless radio to enter a low-power polling mode.
3. Clear the Print Spooler: On your connected PC, open Services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and select Restart. A stalled document in the queue can keep the printer's logic board in a "Ready" state, preventing it from dropping from 7W down to the 0.8W standby mode.
4. Disable Unused Connectivity: If you do not use the Fax feature, go to Setup > Device Settings > Fax Setup and disable any automatic redial or polling features that might keep the modem active.

If That Didn't Work

• Isolate the Power Source: Plug the printer directly into a wall outlet rather than a cheap power strip or an older surge protector. Some low-quality power strips cause "phantom loads" or voltage drops that can cause the printer's internal power supply to work harder (drawing more current) to maintain a steady DC voltage for the print head.
• Perform a Hard Power Reset: While the printer is on, pull the power cord directly from the back of the unit. Wait exactly 60 seconds. This drains the capacitors on the mainboard and clears the volatile memory (RAM), which can resolve glitches where the printer stays in a high-power "wake" state despite the screen being off.
• Update Firmware: Use the Canon PRINT app or the onboard menu to check for firmware updates. Canon occasionally releases patches that optimize the "Deep Sleep" transition timing, reducing the overall daily kilowatt-hour consumption.
• Check for "Wake-on-LAN" Interference: If you have a sophisticated network router, disable "UPnP" or aggressive network discovery for the printer's IP address. Some routers constantly ping the printer to check its status, which repeatedly wakes the TR8620a from its 0.8W sleep state back to a higher power state.

Heads Up

• Avoid Frequent Hard-Offs: Do not unplug the printer from the wall to save power. The TR8620a performs a critical print head cleaning cycle during its power-up sequence; doing this too often wastes ink and can lead to clogged nozzles.
• Ink Level Impact: Be aware that power draw can fluctuate slightly based on the type of ink being used. Using high-capacity XL cartridges doesn't change power draw, but frequent cleaning cycles (triggered by low ink or long periods of inactivity) will cause temporary spikes in wattage.
• Ambient Temperature: If the printer is kept in a very cold environment, the internal heaters used to maintain ink viscosity may activate, causing a slight increase in baseline power consumption.