The Alpha-40L is a TSC mobile printer that prints 4-inch labels with a 104 mm print width. Its resolution (203 dpi) and speed (127 mm per second) are the same as its 3-inch sibling, the Alpha-30L, but its 6,200 mAh battery is just over twice as large, extending run time under the same conditions from 23.5 hours to 45 hours.
In exchange, it is 43 mm wider and 240 g heavier. The forklift mount and vehicle power parts are accessories shared by both models, so for a setup that prints 4-inch receiving and shipping labels on a vehicle, these parts go on the Alpha-40L.
Size and battery differences from the Alpha-30L
| Item | Alpha-40L | Alpha-30L |
|---|---|---|
| Max print width | 104 mm | 72 mm |
| Media width (including liner) | 50.8-112 mm | 25.4-80 mm |
| Battery capacity | 6,200 mAh | 3,030 mAh |
| Run time (12.5% print, one label every 2 minutes, Bluetooth) | 45 hours | 23.5 hours |
| Charging time | 4.5-6.5 hours | 3.5-5 hours |
| Size (W x H x D) | 160 x 191 x 79 mm | 117 x 173 x 79 mm |
| Weight (with battery) | 985 g | 745 g |
The 79 mm depth, IP54, and 1.8 m drop spec are the same on both models. If you often use labels narrower than 50.8 mm, the Alpha-30L is the better fit.
Forklift and vehicle mounting
The vehicle mount adapter mates with RAM Mount parts to secure the printer to a forklift, and a quick-release mount kit for fast removal and reattachment is also available. Both models meet the U.S. military standard MIL-STD-810G for drops and vehicle vibration.
Power is set up in one of three ways.
- To charge from a vehicle power plug, use the 12-24 V or 12-60 V vehicle power adapter.
- To run a full shift without worrying about the battery, wire vehicle power directly to the printer with the 12-48 V battery eliminator.
- To connect and disconnect power without tools, fit the 12-48 V wire-to-wire eliminator together with the dedicated dummy battery pack.
There are also two external media holders for keeping fan-fold media outside the unit: an extension kit type and a quick-release mount type.
Smart battery replacement criteria
The battery's cycle life is rated at 500 cycles, and the replacement point is judged by discharge count and remaining capacity. 550 discharges or fewer, or 70% capacity or more, is good; 551-600 discharges or 67-69% is time to replace; more than 600 discharges or below 67% is unusable. The charge count and remaining capacity are shown directly in TSC Console and SOTI Connect.
When a new battery is first inserted into a 1-slot or 4-slot charger, the charger indicator blinks red. This is because the battery is in shutdown mode for storage and shipping, and it is released by removing and reinserting the battery once. This step is not needed when charging the battery in the printer itself.
Linerless kit and media
Media fits at 50.8-112 mm wide including the liner, 0.06-0.16 mm thick, and on rolls up to 67 mm outer diameter. Linerless labels without a backing print only with the linerless kit, a factory option, installed, and peeler mode, which peels off labels as they print, is used for lengths of 25.4-152.4 mm.
The driver and manual are on the Alpha-40L driver download page. Layouts 104 mm wide are created in Goodlabel Designer (free label design software, Windows 10 or later).
