Frequently Asked Questions
Which part number should I check before I order a black cartridge?
The black in the TK-542 family is 1T02HL0US0, short code TK-542K — the K marks it as the black unit. That code is printed on the label of the cartridge in your printer, and it is the one to match. The color cartridges in this family carry different codes, so matching 1T02HL0US0 guarantees the black slot gets the right cartridge.
Why is black rated at 5,000 pages when the colors are rated at 4,000?
That is the family's own rating structure: black TK-542K at 5,000 pages, each color at 4,000, all at 5% coverage. It reflects how these printers actually work — the black cartridge carries every page of text that goes through the machine, while each color only works when its shade appears on the page.
Is this a full-capacity cartridge or a small starter unit?
Full capacity. This is the complete 5,000-page cartridge, not a reduced-fill starter of the kind sometimes bundled with a new printer. You get the entire rated yield from the first page, which is what makes it the sensible default for a machine that prints text all day.
My first pages with the new cartridge look pale. What is going on?
Almost always it is toner that settled in transit rather than a fault. Take the cartridge out, rock it gently side to side four or five times to level the toner inside, and reinstall it. Print a few pages and the density evens out. If output stayed pale after that, that is a warranty conversation, not something you should have to live with.
How involved is the swap itself?
Not involved at all: open the printer's front access, pull the old black cartridge straight out, remove the packaging from this one, and push it in until it seats. No tools, no technician, and no settings to change — most people are printing again in about two minutes.
What protection do I get with this cartridge?
Every compatible cartridge we sell carries a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns, and the terms are published in full on our shipping & returns page. If this black cartridge underperforms or fails early, the cover is there to be used.
How should a spare black cartridge be kept until it is needed?
Sealed, flat and dry, away from sunlight and heat. The TK-542K does the machine's heaviest work, so a spare bought ahead rarely waits long — but whether it waits a week or a season, those conditions keep it at full strength. Rock it gently side to side before fitting to level toner settled in storage, and the 1T02HL0US0 starts its 5,000-page life printing at full density from the first sheet.
What does the TK-542K cost per page?
At $46.22 against the rated 5,000 pages, the black works out to roughly 0.92 cents per page at 5% coverage — under a cent for the cartridge that carries every text page the FS-C5100 prints. Dense forms and heavy graphics raise the real figure, lighter documents lower it, but for budgeting a text-heavy machine's running cost, that sub-cent line is the number this family's black is built around.
How can I predict the next black change instead of being surprised by it?
Note two figures at fitting: the date and, if your machine shows it, the page counter. When the TK-542K comes out, the difference between the two readings is your machine's true black consumption rate — far more reliable than the rating alone. Divide the new cartridge's 5,000-page rating by that monthly rate and you have a reorder date you can put on the calendar before the low warning ever appears.
What should I do with the empty black cartridge?
Slip it into the packaging the new 1T02HL0US0 came in so loose toner stays contained, and add it to your spent-cartridge collection for a local recycling route. Black empties accumulate fastest in a text-heavy office, so the habit matters: one boxed empty per swap, gathered in one place, handed over in a batch. Keep an early-failing unit separate until its cover has been dealt with, rather than letting it disappear into the batch.
About This TK-542K Black Cartridge
The black cartridge does more work than any other supply in the machine, and this TK-542K (1T02HL0US0), $46.22, is built for exactly that workload in the Kyocera FS-C5100: a full 5,000-page rating and a straight, tool-free swap when the old unit gives out. It belongs to our Kyocera Mita compatible range and ships from our warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA. If you want the code double-checked before ordering, our support team answers Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST.
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