CommandsPrint control
^ZZ - Printer Sleep
Places printer in idle or shutdown mode for power conservation
^ZZ - Printer Sleep
Overview
The ^ZZ command places the printer in an idle or shutdown mode after a specified period of inactivity. This feature helps conserve energy and extend the life of the printer components. You can configure both the idle timeout period and whether the printer should wait for all queued labels to print before entering sleep mode.
Syntax
^ZZt,bParameters
- t = Idle timeout in seconds
- Valid: 1-999999, or 0 to disable
- Default: 0 (disabled)
- b = Label queue behavior
- Y = Shutdown immediately even if labels are queued
- N = Wait for all labels to print before shutdown (default)
Description
- Configures printer auto-shutdown/sleep mode based on inactivity
- Helps conserve energy by powering down idle printers
- Can be configured to wait for print queue to clear before sleeping
- Useful for unattended printer environments
- Default factory setting: 0 (auto-shutdown disabled)
Usage Notes
- Default value is the last permanently saved value
- Setting t=0 disables automatic shutdown
- Parameter b controls whether to force shutdown or wait for queue
- Common timeout values: 300 (5 min), 600 (10 min), 1800 (30 min)
- Setting persists across power cycles
Example - Sleep After 5 Minutes
^ZZ300,NSleep after 300 seconds of inactivity, but only after all queued labels are printed.
Example - Sleep After 30 Minutes
^ZZ1800,NSleep after 1800 seconds (30 minutes) of inactivity.
Example - Immediate Shutdown
^ZZ300,YSleep after 300 seconds of inactivity, even if labels are still queued.
Example - Disable Auto-Shutdown
^
Disables automatic shutdown feature.
Energy Conservation
This command is useful for:
- Reducing power consumption in idle periods
- Extending printhead and component lifespan
- Automatic shutdown in unattended environments
- Compliance with energy-saving requirements
Related Commands
^JZ- Reprint After Error^PQ- Print Quantity^PR- Print Rate^MM- Print Mode