How to Connect a Credit Card Machine to a Printer

Update your credit card terminal with a printer to speed transactions.

Many small businesses still use credit card machines to validate transactions and receive an approval or decline notification. These businesses usually do not use the machine to actually print the credit card receipt that the customer signs. With these types of credit card transactions, the cashier typically uses an imprint machine to create a receipt with the transaction and approval information, which the customer then signs. If your small business still uses one of the older machines, you can connect it to a credit card printer to reduce the amount of time needed to process transactions.

Things You'll Need

• Credit card machine with parallel or RS-232 port connector
• Printer compatible with your credit card terminal
• Parallel or RS-232 cable

Instructions

1. Turn off the credit card terminal machine. Disconnect the power cord. Also, disconnect the ATM PIN pad if attached.

2. Connect the cable to the credit card receipt printer. If you're using a parallel cable, tighten the thumbscrews to secure the cable to the printer. If you're using an RS-232 cable connection, insert the cable plug into the matching port on the rear of the printer. (Note that the RS-232 connector looks like a large telephone jack plug.)

3. Connect the other end of the printer cable to the credit card terminal machine.

4. Connect the power cord for the credit card receipt printer if it has one. Some printers draw power directly from the credit card terminal machine and do not require a separate power adapter.

5. Install the paper roll for the printer.

6. Reconnect the power cord to the credit card terminal. Switch on the credit card receipt printer and then the terminal machine.

7. Refer to the owner's manual for the credit card terminal for sending a test print page to an attached printer. In most cases, you must press the buttons on the keypad in a certain sequence to send the test print job. For instance, with Hypercom credit card terminals, pressing "Function + 8 + 2" keys in sequence will send a test page to the printer.

Tips & Warnings

• With a few credit card receipt printers, you may have to set "DIP Switches" on the rear of the unit before using it with your terminal. Refer to the printer manual to see what settings are appropriate for your particular terminal.

References

• ETS Corp.: VeriFone Printer 250 Reference and Programmer's Manual
• VeriFone: Omni 3200SE/3210SE Installation Guide
• VeriFone: Printer 900
• Credit Card Terminal: Hypercom T7 Series Hardware and Installation Manual