Canon PIXMA TS3660 Home Ink Cartridges
Your Canon PIXMA TS3660 Home uses the CL-646 / CL-646XL / PG-645 / PG-645XL cartridge series, a two-cartridge system consisting of one dedicated black and one tri-colour tank. Because this machine is often used for household projects, administration, and school assignments, the tri-colour cartridge handles all colour printing. When a single primary colour inside the tank is depleted, the entire unit requires replacement. Opting for high-yield XL variants prevents frequent interruptions during heavy text jobs or creative home projects.
How long these cartridges last in real use
Laboratory ratings for the CL-646 and PG-645 series are measured using the ISO/IEC 24711 standard, which is based on continuous document printing. In a normal home environment, stop-start printing and automatic system maintenance cycles consume small amounts of ink. As a result, your real-world page numbers will differ from the laboratory figures. If your printing consists primarily of black text documents, the standard or high-yield black tanks will provide consistent output before replacement is needed.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-645 | Standard | Black | 180 | $0.14 |
| CL-646 | Standard | Colour | 180 | $0.17 |
| PG-645XL | High Yield | Black | 400 | $0.083 |
| CL-646XL | High Yield | Colour | 400 | $0.098 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Choosing the right cartridge setup
Managing replacements for this machine is most effective through value bundle packs. Because the black and colour tanks do not run out at the exact same moment, keeping an extra set on hand prevents sudden halts in your daily output. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). We dispatch orders from our distribution centres located in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to ensure quick delivery. To explore additional options, view the complete Canon Ink Cartridges range.
Pro Tip
Avoid running the tri-colour cartridge completely dry. Continuing to print when a colour warning appears can overheat the microscopic nozzles on the integrated printhead, leading to air bubbles and streaks on your final pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install the PG-645XL high-yield black cartridge if I have only used the standard capacity before?
Yes. The XL designation refers entirely to the internal volume of ink rather than the exterior shape of the unit. It fits perfectly into the same internal cradle without any modifications to the printer.
Why does the printer refuse to print when the colour cartridge is empty?
The printer uses a built-in electrical circuit that requires both cartridges to be detected and contain ink. If the colour cartridge is completely depleted, the system triggers an error to protect the printhead from overheating.
Does the tri-colour cartridge run out faster than the black tank?
For households, the CL-646 is often replaced more frequently than the black tank. It contains three colours in a single housing; printing a single photo with a large volume of one colour will exhaust that specific ink, requiring the replacement of the entire unit.
