ZX Printer instructions
Copyright Sinclair Research Limited 1981
ZX Printer Operating Instructions
Introduction
The Sinclair ZX printer gives a permanent record if anything the computer can print on the TV
screen. In addition, graphics always "join up" if done in several goes, so that long programs, long
tables of results and elaborate patterns and graphs can be printed out without a break.
Supplied with a printer are these instruction and 1 reel of paper. You will also need either a ZX81, or
a ZX80 with the replacement ROM: the standard version of the ZX80 cannot be used. Chapeter 20 of
the ZX81 instruction book gives the BASIC commands necessary to use the printer. You will also
need a 1.2A power supply which will have been supplied either with your computer or your printer.
Connecting up
Before connecting anything to you computer, pull its power plug out. If you have a RAM pack,
unplug that too. The edge socket on the end of the printer's cable now pushes onto the back of the
computer through the rectangular slot -
(looking from the front). The printer will work perfectly well without a RAM pack, but if you have
one an extra plug has been provided behind the printer's socket so that the two may be stacked
together. Just push the RAM into the back of the socket housing the same way as if you were
connecting it to the computer. The printer should now sit neatly on the right hand side of the
ZX80/81.
IMPORTANT:
Since the printer takes a lot of power, a new power supply is provided which must
be used in place of the old computer suplpy, and which plugs into the same socket on the ZX80 or
ZX81. No harm will be done using the replacement supply all the time, even if the printer isn't
connected.
Note - since you should'nt connect the printer without switching the computer off first, it's a good
idea to have the printer always plugged in just in case - otherwise you'll have to save your program
to tape while you fiddle about with plugs and sockets.
See LPRINT inside back cover
The paper
The ZX printer uses its own special metallized paper, which can be supplied by Sinclair Research.
Other metal-coated papers will work, but may give smeared, fuzzy or faint printing - others contain
cadmium in the coating and could be a health risk. Non-metallized paper won't work at all.
How to load a fresh reel of paper
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