MODEL REFERENCE

Brother PT-E100

12 errors · 10 troubleshooting topics · 17 guides

Brother PT-E100

The checks and guides below come from the official manuals for this model.

Errors and messages

Messages and indicator states from the manual
Low Battery!batteries are weak
2 checks
AAA alkaline batteries are weak
Replace all six AAA alkaline batteries with new ones.
Ni-MH batteries are weak
Fully charge all six Ni-MH batteries in a suitable separate charger.
Battery Deadbatteries have expired
Replace all six AAA alkaline batteries together, or use six fully charged Ni-MH batteries with the correct polarity.
Invalid!a setting or serialization character is invalid
2 checks
Invalid length or diameter
Enter a valid label length, tab length, cable diameter, flag length or faceplate length.
Invalid serialization character
Select a valid character or number to increment in Serialize.
No Data!there is no text or saved data to print
2 checks
Saved file has no data
Choose a file containing stored text.
Print or Serialize was pressed without text
Enter text before pressing Print or Serialize.
Line Limit!too many lines or tape too narrow
2 checks
A third line was entered
Do not enter a third line or press Enter after the second line.
Two-line printing or preview with 3.5 mm or 6 mm tape
Use 9 mm or 12 mm tape for two-line text.
No Cassette!no tape cassette is installed
Switch off, install a Brother TZe cassette until it clicks, keep the tape end under the guides, and close the cassette cover securely.
Cutter Errorcutter was used while printing
Do not touch the cutter lever while Printing... or Feeding... is displayed.
Text Full!text has reached the character limit
Keep regular text to at most 80 characters.
Text Limit!text exceeds the label length
Reduce the text or choose Auto label length.
No Frame OK?frame cannot be printed on 3.5 mm tape
2 checks
Print without a frame on 3.5 mm tape
Press Enter to print without a frame.
Cancel the operation
Press Backspace to cancel.
OK to Feed?chain Print is waiting to feed tape
After the final chained label, press Enter to feed the tape before cutting. To enter another label, press Clear, clear the text, enter the next label and press Print.
Wrong Tape!unsupported cassette type
Use a Brother TZe tape cassette bearing the TZe mark.

Troubleshooting

Find the problem you are experiencing
Display stays blank2 checks
Battery insertion
Check the batteries are correctly inserted.
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Printed labels have too much margin1 check
Margin setting
Use Menu, Margin, Half or Narrow and Enter.
Label does not print or characters are malformed3 checks
Cassette insertion
Check that the cassette is correctly inserted.
Empty cassette
Replace an empty tape cassette.
Cassette cover
Check the cover is fully closed.
Settings clear on their own2 checks
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Power interruption
A power interruption longer than three minutes loses displayed text and formatting, language and unit settings.
A blank horizontal line crosses the label2 checks
Print-head dust
Remove the cassette and gently wipe the print head up and down with a dry cotton swab.
Optional cleaning cassette
The optional TZe-CL3 cassette makes print-head cleaning easier.
Label maker stops responding1 check
Internal reset
Use Reset the P-touch E100; all text, settings and stored files will be cleared.
Power turns off when printing starts2 checks
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Battery insertion
Check that batteries are correctly inserted.
Tape will not feed or jams2 checks
Tape path
Check the tape end feeds under the tape guides.
Cutter during printing
Do not touch the cutter lever during printing.
Clear text and formatting for a new label1 check
Clear settings
Press Clear, select Text&Format and press Enter.
Display uses the wrong language1 check
Language setting
Use Menu, Language, select a language and press Enter.

Guides

Power supply and tape cassette

Instructions from the manual
Install batteries and tape8 steps
  1. Switch off before replacing batteries or tape.
  2. Press the indicated top area to open the cassette cover.
  3. Remove an installed cassette straight up and remove existing batteries.
  4. Insert six new AAA alkaline LR03 batteries or six fully charged Ni-MH HR03 batteries with correct polarity.
  5. Replace all six together; do not mix old and new cells, types, charge levels, manufacturers or models.
  6. Seat a Brother TZe cassette until it clicks, with its tape end under the guides.
  7. Close the cover until it clicks.
  8. Keep fingers clear when closing and do not touch the cutter blade.
PT-E100 battery, tape and optional AD-24ES adapter setup; all four illustrated steps and labels are retained.
PT-E100 battery, tape and optional AD-24ES adapter setup; all four illustrated steps and labels are retained.
Connect the AC adapter7 steps
  1. Use the specified voltage and recommended AD-24ES adapter.
  2. Connect it to the socket on the bottom of the P-touch, then plug it into the nearest standard electrical socket.
  3. AAA LR03 or HR03 batteries together with the adapter are recommended for memory backup.
  4. Make sure the plug is fully inserted; do not use a loose socket.
  5. Keep the machine, adapter, plug and batteries dry.
  6. Do not overload or damage the power cord; hold the adapter when disconnecting it.
  7. Do not touch the P-touch during a lightning storm.

Initial settings

Instructions from the manual
Set language and measurement unit6 steps
  1. Supply power with six AAA batteries and press Power.
  2. Press Menu, select Language with the cursor keys and Enter, choose the language and Enter.
  3. Use Menu, Unit, Enter, select inch or mm, then Enter.
  4. The default unit is mm.
  5. Backspace cancels an operation.
  6. The machine turns off after five minutes without key presses.

Entering text

Instructions from the manual
Enter text, tabs, accents and label length11 steps
  1. Press Caps to switch between upper and lower case.
  2. To enter two lines, press Enter after the first line, or move the cursor to the second-line start and press Enter.
  3. Two-line text needs 9 mm or 12 mm tape; do not press Enter after the second line.
  4. Backspace deletes letters one by one.
  5. Clear, Text&Format and Enter clears text and settings; Text Only preserves settings.
  6. Use Menu, Tab and Enter to insert a tab; Menu, Tab Length and Enter selects Auto or 0–100 mm.
  7. A tab positions the cursor at the next tab length measured from the label’s left edge, rather than the previous character.
  8. With 9 mm tape, Small size, ×1/2 width and 15 mm tabs, a patch-panel label can be created.
  9. To enter an accent, type the character, press Accent and choose with Accent or the cursor keys, then Enter; Backspace cancels, and order depends on language.
  10. Use Menu, Label Length and Enter to select Auto or 30–300 mm and Enter.
  11. After printing, use scissors at the printed dots so the length matches the setting; a fixed length also shows the lock indicator.

Printing labels

Instructions from the manual
Preview, feed and print labels8 steps
  1. Use Menu, Preview and Enter to preview text.
  2. Use Menu, Feed and Enter to feed tape.
  3. Press Print, choose 1–9 copies with the cursor or number keys, and press Enter.
  4. For one copy, press Enter without selecting the count.
  5. Do not touch the cutter lever while Printing... or Feeding... is displayed.
  6. To cut the label, press the cutter lever at the upper-right corner.
  7. Peel off the backing and apply the label.
  8. Do not pull the tape.
Set margins and print a chain of labels9 steps
  1. Use Menu, Margin and Enter, choose Full, Half, Narrow or Chain Print, then Enter.
  2. Full leaves 25 mm, Half 12 mm and Narrow 4 mm on each side.
  3. For a chain, enter text, press Print, choose the copy count with cursor or number keys, then Enter.
  4. At OK to Feed?, press Clear to enter more text, clear the text, enter the next label and press Print.
  5. After the final label, press Enter at OK to Feed? to feed the tape, then use the cutter.
  6. With Half or Narrow, displayed length runs from the printed dots to the end.
  7. Narrow minimizes margins for multiple copies.
  8. Always feed a chain before cutting so text is not cut off; cut with scissors along the printed dots to centre the text.
  9. Do not pull the tape.

Saving label files

Instructions from the manual
Save, open and print label files5 steps
  1. Store up to nine label files, with at most 80 characters each and 720 characters in total.
  2. Use Menu, File and Enter, select Save, Enter, choose a number and Enter.
  3. If Overwrite? appears, Enter saves the replacement and Backspace cancels.
  4. Use File, Open to choose and reopen a stored label; it can be edited and overwritten.
  5. Use File, Print, choose a file and Enter, choose 1–9 copies with cursor or number keys and Enter.

Accessories

Instructions from the manual
Replace a blunt tape cutter4 steps
  1. If repeated use blunts the cutter and tape does not cut cleanly, obtain replacement TC-4 from an authorized Brother reseller.
  2. Pull out both green sections in the directions shown in the manual illustration.
  3. Push in the new cutter until it snaps into place.
  4. Do not touch the cutter blade directly with your fingers.
PT-E100 TC-4 cutter replacement: both removal arrows, insertion step and blade warning.
PT-E100 TC-4 cutter replacement: both removal arrows, insertion step and blade warning.

Reset the p-touch e100

Instructions from the manual
Reset the label makerView
Switch off the P-touch E100. Hold Menu and R, then press Power to turn it on again. Release Menu and R. Internal memory resets; all text, settings and stored files are cleared.

Cable wrap

Instructions from the manual
Print cable-wrap labels9 steps
  1. Press Cable Wrap, choose a diameter of 3–90 mm with the cursor keys and Enter; the default is 6 mm.
  2. Enter text, press Print, choose 1–9 copies and Enter.
  3. Text rotates 90° counterclockwise; label length follows cable diameter.
  4. To repeat the text along the label, use Menu and CableRot/Rpt.
  5. Flexible ID tape is recommended for cables and wires.
  6. Use Cable Flag for objects less than 3 mm in diameter.
  7. Press Cable Wrap again to deactivate this mode.
  8. Clear, Text&Format or Text only, and Enter clears text; Backspace cancels.
  9. A format may not fit all text and can show Text Limit!.

Cable flag

Instructions from the manual
Print cable-flag labels8 steps
  1. Press Cable Flag, select Auto or a flag length of 10–200 mm with the cursor keys and Enter; Auto is the default and fits the text.
  2. Enter text, press Print, choose 1–9 copies and Enter.
  3. The two label ends stick together to make a flag, with text at both ends.
  4. Flexible ID tape is recommended for cables and wires; use a flag for objects less than 3 mm in diameter.
  5. Text cannot rotate in Cable Flag.
  6. Press Cable Flag again to deactivate.
  7. Clear, Text&Format or Text only, and Enter clears text; Backspace cancels.
  8. Text exceeding the format may not print fully and can show Text Limit!.

Faceplate

Instructions from the manual
Print faceplate labels7 steps
  1. Press Faceplate, choose a length of 30–300 mm with the cursor keys and Enter; default length is 50 mm.
  2. Enter text, press Print, choose 1–9 copies and Enter.
  3. A text block is evenly spaced on the label.
  4. For multiple ports, either chain-print using the port width as faceplate length, or set total port length and space port data with tabs.
  5. Press Faceplate again to deactivate.
  6. Clear, Text&Format or Text only, and Enter clears text; Backspace cancels.
  7. Text exceeding the format may not print fully and can show Text Limit!.

Serialize

Instructions from the manual
Serialize labels3 steps
  1. Enter text, use the cursor keys to select the number or letter to increment, press Serialize, select the serialization count with cursor or number keys, and press Enter.
  2. The number or letter increments automatically on each label.
  3. Serialize can also be used with Cable Wrap, Cable Flag or Faceplate templates.

Underline and frame

Instructions from the manual
Choose an underline or frameView
Use Menu, Undl/Frame and Enter, select the desired frame type with cursor keys and Enter. Frames cannot print on 3.5 mm tape.

Text keys

Instructions from the manual
Choose text size, style and width5 steps
  1. Press Menu plus 1 for Size, Menu plus 2 for Style, or Menu plus 3 for Width.
  2. Choose with cursor keys and Enter.
  3. Sizes are Large, Medium and Small.
  4. Styles are Normal, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Italic, I+Bold, I+Outline, I+Shadow and Vertical.
  5. Widths are Normal, ×2 and ×1/2.

Symbol key

Instructions from the manual
Enter symbols3 steps
  1. Press Symbol to choose one of 12 categories using the cursor keys, then select a symbol using the cursor keys and Enter.
  2. Backspace returns to the previous step.
  3. Symbols can look slightly different on the LCD and the printed label.

General precautions

Instructions from the manual
Clean and safely store the label maker9 steps
  1. Clean the housing with a soft dry cloth; never use alcohol or other organic solvents.
  2. Use a dry cotton swab on the print head, without touching it directly.
  3. Do not touch metal near the head immediately after printing or touch the cutter blade.
  4. Remove batteries and disconnect the AC adapter when the machine will not be used.
  5. Keep away from moisture, excessive temperatures, direct sunlight and dust.
  6. Disconnect the adapter or remove batteries immediately and stop use if unusual odour, heat, discoloration, deformation or other unusual conditions occur.
  7. Charge Ni-MH batteries in a separate specialized charger following the battery and charger instructions; the P-touch does not charge batteries.
  8. Do not print with an empty cassette or pull tape while printing or feeding.
  9. Keep parts and labels out of children’s mouths and reach.

Controls and parts

See the manual diagrams 1 diagram
PT-E100 display and keyboard: complete 25-callout key.
PT-E100 display and keyboard: complete 25-callout key.

Model details

Model and compatibility

Tape
Brother TZe tape: 3.5, 6, 9 and 12 mm; use 9 or 12 mm for two lines. [1]
Power
Six AAA alkaline LR03 or Ni-MH HR03 batteries; optional AD-24ES AC adapter. [1]
Cutter
TC-4 replacement cutter. [1]

Manuals and sources

  1. Brother operation manual
  2. Brother model support and details
  3. Brother manual download listing
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