Lighting
ETC Source Four LED Series 3 troubleshooting
The ETC Source Four LED Series 3 problems live-event techs bring to Ask Roadie most (also called S4 LED, Series 3 Lustr, Source 4 LED, Source4 LED S3). Pick your symptom, or describe your own in plain words, and get the likeliest fix first, with the manual page when there is one.
Common Source Four LED Series 3 errors & problems
What techs run into most, and what's usually behind it. The step-by-step fix for your exact unit is in Ask Roadie.
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"Searching for Firmware" on the display at power-up; fixture only outputs amber, or red and yellow light
Likely cause: The message means the control board cannot load valid array firmware.
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Colors do not match between two Series 3 fixtures
Likely cause: The X8 (8-color) array renders color differently than 7-color arrays; matching firmware, mode, and curve — and using Direct calibration — brings same-model units into agreement.
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Fan runs loud or stays at full speed constantly
Likely cause: The Series 3 fan is selectable and can be driven by DMX.
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Fixture dims itself down / loses output at full intensity (thermal fold-back)
Likely cause: Boost mode drives the LEDs harder and needs more cooling; starving the fan via DMX lets junction temps climb until the fixture throttles.
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Fixture not responding to DMX / no output from console
Likely cause: Most no-response cases are address/mode/patch mismatch or a cable fault.
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How to restore the fixture to default settings
Likely cause: A settings restore clears misconfigured menu options (fan, curve, DMX-loss, output mode) to a known baseline, a fast first step when behavior is odd but the fixture otherwise boots normally.
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Need 16-bit DMX control or new curve options but they are missing from the menu
Likely cause: 16-bit modes and the newer curve/PWM options were introduced in the 1.4.0 release, so pre-1.4 fixtures simply do not have them available until updated.
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Need to update fixture firmware / want the latest version
Likely cause: v1.4.0.76 adds 16-bit DMX modes, Quick Linear and Unregulated curve channel options, Medium PWM, and Focus Mode showing current tilt.
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Setting DMX address and DMX mode on the fixture
Likely cause: The Series 3 uses a color-coded 3-encoder UI; each parameter is edited by the matching encoder and committed with a press.
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Visible flicker on camera / in video capture
Likely cause: LED flicker on camera is a PWM-vs-shutter beat.
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Want maximum brightness / how to enable Boost
Likely cause: Boost drives the LED array beyond the standard regulated ceiling for peak output, trading power and cooling headroom for brightness.
Not on the list? Describe it your way, or paste the error code off the display. Ask Roadie works the problem with you until it's fixed or you have a clear next move.
How Ask Roadie helps with the Source Four LED Series 3
- 1. Pick the ETC Source Four LED Series 3. It's already in the list.
- 2. Describe what you're seeing. In your own words, or the error code off the screen.
- 3. Get the likeliest fix first. Steps in order, the manual page when there is one, and a note when other techs have confirmed it.
- 4. Still broken? Tap 👎 and it keeps going from where you left off.
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