MODEL REFERENCE

Brother PT-H102

13 errors · 27 guides

Brother PT-H102

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 with new alkaline AAA batteries.
Ni-MH batteries are weak
Use a separate suitable charger to charge all six fully.
Battery Deadbatteries are exhausted
Replace the expired batteries, following the battery-type, polarity and six-cell replacement instructions.
Invalid!label length is invalid
Enter a valid label length. This warning does not occur in Auto Designs.
No Text!no label text is available
Enter text before printing, selecting Text Preview or Cable Label, or using DECO MODE or Auto Designs. Save a file before printing stored text.
Line Limit!too many lines or tape too narrow
2 checks
A third line was entered
Remove the third line; do not press Enter after the second line.
Two lines are on 3.5 mm or 6 mm tape
Install 9 mm or 12 mm tape for two-line text.
No Cassette!tape cassette is missing
Install a Brother TZe cassette before printing.
Cutter Errorcutter pressed during printing
Keep the cutter lever untouched during printing.
Text Full!text exceeds the character limit
Reduce the text to at most 80 characters for regular text, or 50 for Auto Designs and DECO MODE.
Text Limit!text exceeds the selected label length
2 checks
DECO MODE text exceeds the label length
Reduce the text.
Another function exceeds the label length
Reduce the text or set label length to Auto.
No Frame OK?frame cannot print on 3.5 mm tape
Press Enter to print without a frame, or Backspace to cancel.
OK to Feed?chain Print is waiting to feed tape
After the last label in a chain, press Enter to feed the tape. Only then press the cutter lever; cutting before feeding may cut off text.
Insert 12mmdECO MODE needs 12 mm tape
Use a 12 mm tape cassette for DECO MODE.
Wrong Tape!tape cassette type is unsupported
Use a Brother TZe cassette bearing the TZe mark shown in the guide.

Guides

Troubleshooting

Instructions from the manual
Display stays blank2 checks
Battery insertion
Check that all batteries are correctly inserted.
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Printed labels have too much margin1 check
Margin setting
Select Half or Narrow in Margin for smaller margins.
Label does not print or characters are malformed3 checks
Cassette seating
Check the cassette is correctly inserted.
Empty cassette
Replace the empty cassette.
Cover closure
Close the cassette cover correctly.
Settings clear on their own2 checks
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Power disconnected for over three minutes
Power disconnection for over three minutes clears displayed text, formats, language and unit settings.
A blank horizontal line crosses the label2 checks
Print-head dust
Remove the cassette and wipe the head gently up and down with a dry cotton swab.
Optional cleaning cassette
The optional TZe-CL3 cleaning cassette makes head cleaning easier.
Label maker stops responding1 check
Locked controls
Follow Reset the label maker; all text, settings and files are cleared.
Power turns off when printing starts3 checks
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Battery insertion
Check that batteries are inserted correctly.
Weak batteries, repeated source check
Replace weak batteries.
Tape will not feed or jams2 checks
Tape routing
Check the tape end feeds under the guides.
Cutter pressed during printing
Do not touch the cutter lever while printing.
Clear text and formatting for a new label1 check
New label needs cleared text and formatting
Press Clear, select Text&Format and confirm with Enter.
Display uses the wrong language1 check
Incorrect language
Use Initial Settings to choose the language.

Power supply and tape cassette

Instructions from the manual
Install batteries and tape7 steps
  1. Switch off before replacing batteries or tape.
  2. Press the indicated top area and open the cassette cover.
  3. Remove the existing cassette straight upwards and remove existing batteries.
  4. Insert six new AAA alkaline LR03 batteries or six fully charged Ni-MH HR03 batteries with the shown polarity; replace all six together, without mixing types, brands, charge levels or old and new cells.
  5. Seat a Brother TZe cassette until it clicks and keep the tape end under the guides.
  6. Close the cover securely until it clicks.
  7. Do not touch the cutter blade.
Switch off before replacing tape or batteries. Steps 1–3 show opening the cover, six-cell polarity and tape routing; close the cover until it clicks. The adapter panel is omitted because H102 does not support an AC adapter.
Switch off before replacing tape or batteries. Steps 1–3 show opening the cover, six-cell polarity and tape routing; close the cover until it clicks. The adapter panel is omitted because H102 does not support an AC adapter.

Initial settings

Instructions from the manual
Set language and measurement unit5 steps
  1. Supply power with six AAA batteries and press Power.
  2. Press Menu, select Language with the cursor keys, select the desired language and press Enter.
  3. Press Menu, select Unit, choose inch or mm and press Enter; mm is the default.
  4. Backspace cancels an operation.
  5. The machine switches off after five minutes without key presses.

Entering text

Instructions from the manual
Enter text and choose label length7 steps
  1. Press Caps to switch upper and lower case.
  2. For two lines, press Enter after the first line, or place the cursor at the second-line start and press Enter.
  3. Use 9 mm or 12 mm tape and do not press Enter after the second line.
  4. Backspace deletes characters one at a time; Clear with Text&Format clears text and settings, while Text Only retains formatting.
  5. For accents, enter the character, press Accent, choose with the cursor keys and press Enter; Backspace cancels, and ordering depends on the display language.
  6. Use Menu, Label Length, Auto or 30–300 mm, and Enter.
  7. After printing, cut at the printed dots with scissors so the label matches the chosen length.

Printing labels

Instructions from the manual
Preview, feed and print labels6 steps
  1. Use Menu, Preview and Enter to preview text; size, font and other features are not previewed.
  2. Use Menu, Feed and Enter to feed tape.
  3. Press Print, choose 1–9 copies with cursor or number keys and press Enter; for one copy, press Enter without selecting a count.
  4. Do not touch the cutter lever while Printing... or Feeding... appears.
  5. When finished, press the upper-right cutter lever, peel off the backing and apply the label.
  6. Do not pull the tape.
Set margins and print a chain of labels10 steps
  1. Select Menu, Margin and Full, Half, Narrow or Chain Print, then Enter.
  2. Full leaves 25 mm, Half 12 mm and Narrow 4 mm on either side.
  3. For a chain, enter text, press Print, choose the copy count with cursor or number keys and press Enter.
  4. At OK to Feed?, press Backspace to enter another label.
  5. Clear the text, enter the next label and press Print.
  6. At OK to Feed? after the final label, press Enter.
  7. After feeding, press the cutter lever.
  8. With Half or Narrow, cut at the printed dots with scissors to centre the text.
  9. Use Narrow to print several copies with minimum margin.
  10. Always feed before cutting a chain so text is not cut off; do not pull the tape.

Saving label files

Instructions from the manual
Save, open and print label files5 steps
  1. Store up to nine labels of at most 80 characters each.
  2. Use Menu, File, Save, choose a file number and Enter.
  3. At Overwrite?, Enter saves the replacement and Backspace cancels.
  4. To reopen a file, use Menu, File, Open, choose a number and Enter.
  5. To print a stored file, use Menu, File, Print, choose a number and Enter, then choose the copy count and Enter.

Accessories

Instructions from the manual
Replace a blunt tape cutter3 steps
  1. If repeated use leaves the blade blunt and tape will not cut cleanly, obtain replacement TC-4 from an authorised Brother reseller.
  2. Pull out both green sections in the directions shown in the illustration, then push the new unit in until it clicks.
  3. Do not touch the cutter blade with your fingers.
TC-4 cutter replacement, with both removal arrows, complete steps and blade warning.
TC-4 cutter replacement, with both removal arrows, complete steps and blade warning.

Resetting the p-touch

Instructions from the manual
Reset the label makerView
Switch off. Hold Menu and R while pressing Power to switch on again. Release Menu and R. This resets the internal memory and clears all text, settings and stored files.

Cable label

Instructions from the manual
Print cable labels4 steps
  1. Use Brother Flexible ID tape and consult its insertion sheet for application conditions.
  2. Enter the first line, press Enter, then enter the second line.
  3. Select Menu, Cable and Enter, confirm Print OK? with Enter, choose 1–9 copies and Enter.
  4. Cable mode automatically uses Auto label length and Full margins.

General precautions

Instructions from the manual
Clean and safely store the label maker7 steps
  1. Clean the housing with a soft dry cloth; do not use alcohol or other organic solvents.
  2. Clean the print head with a soft wipe and never touch it directly.
  3. Do not touch metal near the head immediately after printing or the cutter blade.
  4. Remove batteries for storage when the machine will not be used.
  5. Stop using the machine and remove batteries immediately if abnormal odour, heat, discolouration, deformation or other unusual conditions appear.
  6. Keep the machine away from moisture, excessive temperature and dust.
  7. Recharge Ni-MH cells in their own suitable charger; this machine does not charge them.
Protect labels, tape and stored text9 steps
  1. Use Brother TZe tape.
  2. Before applying a label, check its material and surroundings: labels may peel, become impossible to remove, change colour or transfer colour.
  3. Use the machine only as described, keep foreign objects out, do not press the cutter lever excessively and do not print with an empty cassette.
  4. Do not pull tape during feeding or printing.
  5. Avoid direct sun, rain, heaters, extreme temperatures, humidity and dust.
  6. Remove the clear display protection sticker before use.
  7. Saved text may be lost through failure, repair or exhausted batteries.
  8. Label length may differ slightly from the displayed length.
  9. Disconnection for more than three minutes clears text, formatting and saved files.

Text keys

Instructions from the manual
Choose text size, style and width4 steps
  1. Press Size, Style, or Menu plus 1 for Width, then use the cursor keys to select the setting.
  2. Size choices are Large, Medium and Small.
  3. Style choices are Normal, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Italic, I+Bold, I+Outline, I+Shadow and Vertical.
  4. Width choices are Normal, ×2 and ×1/2.

Frame key

Instructions from the manual
Choose a label frameView
Press Frame, use the cursor keys to select a frame, and press Enter. Frames cannot be printed on 3.5 mm tape.

Deco mode

Instructions from the manual
Use Auto Designs and DECO MODE11 steps
  1. For Auto Designs, press Auto Designs, choose a category with the cursor keys, press Enter, enter text, and press Enter to print.
  2. Surprise! chooses a frame, style and graphics randomly and does not show label length while entering text.
  3. For DECO MODE, use Menu, Deco mode and Enter, choose design 1–12 and Enter, enter text and Enter, choose Auto or 30–200 mm label length and Enter, then Enter to print.
  4. DECO MODE requires 12 mm tape and allows only the highlighted basic symbols.
  5. Templates cannot be edited.
  6. Long text may not print fully with a fixed length and can produce Text Limit! in DECO MODE.
  7. Clear opens Clear?: Enter clears and Backspace cancels.
  8. The most recently printed template text and length are recalled when entering either function.
  9. Backspace returns to the previous step.
  10. To return to text input, choose Cancel with the cursor keys when Print is displayed and press Enter.
  11. Auto label length fits the text; pressing Space restores Auto in the label-length selection.

Symbol key

Instructions from the manual
Enter symbols and print pictographs6 steps
  1. Press Symbol, select Basic with the cursor keys and Enter, then choose a symbol with the cursor keys and Enter.
  2. Only the highlighted basic symbols can be used in DECO MODE.
  3. For pictographs, press Symbol, select Pictograph and Enter, choose the category and Enter, then choose a symbol and Enter.
  4. The input display uses its grid identifier, for example A1 for the car.
  5. To print all pictographs, select Print List, press Enter, and confirm Print OK? with Enter.
  6. Backspace returns to the previous step.

Safety precautions

Instructions from the manual
Handle batteries and observe safety warnings12 steps
  1. Keep the machine and labels away from children; obtain medical attention if a part or label is swallowed.
  2. Do not use the machine in high humidity or let it or batteries get wet.
  3. Do not dismantle or modify the machine or batteries.
  4. Do not short battery terminals with metal, use sharp objects to replace cells, throw batteries into fire or expose them to heat.
  5. Do not use damaged, leaking, deformed or damaged-label batteries.
  6. If battery fluid enters the eyes, immediately rinse with plenty of clean water and seek medical attention; rinse fluid from skin or clothing with clean water.
  7. Do not mix old/new cells, types, charge levels, brands or models, and follow the marked polarity.
  8. Charge Ni-MH cells separately using a suitable charger after reading its instructions; this machine does not recharge them.
  9. Stop using it and remove batteries immediately if unusual odour, heat, colour changes, deformation or other abnormal conditions occur.
  10. Remove batteries for unused storage.
  11. Avoid dropping or hitting the machine, pressing on the LCD or trapping fingers when closing the cover.
  12. Do not touch the cutter blade or metal near the head just after printing.
Use battery power only3 steps
  1. This model does not support an AC adapter; the adapter instructions apply to H105.
  2. Power this machine with its six specified AAA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries.
  3. Do not try to charge rechargeable cells in the machine.

Controls and parts

See the manual diagrams 1 diagram
PT-H102 display and keyboard, from the model-specific listing’s shared guide. All 25 callouts and the full key are retained.
PT-H102 display and keyboard, from the model-specific listing’s shared guide. All 25 callouts and the full key are retained.

Model details

Model and compatibility

Tape
Brother TZe tape in 3.5, 6, 9 and 12 mm widths; two-line text needs 9 or 12 mm tape. [1]
Power
Six AAA LR03 alkaline batteries or six AAA HR03 Ni-MH batteries, using a separate charger for rechargeable cells. [1]
Cutter
Replacement cutter unit TC-4. [1]

Manuals and sources

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