Source Four Mini

[zmb]

Pardon my ignorance, but if this thing requires a 12V transformer to operate, does that imply it can't be connected to most dimming systems?

There is some way 12 volt track lights can be dimmed with the 120v being dimmed from a regular wall dimmer. It is some sort of circuit inside, not a wire wrapped iron core transformer like on a power pole.

 

[Malabaristo]

There is some way 12 volt track lights can be dimmed with the 120v being dimmed from a regular wall dimmer. It is some sort of circuit inside, not a wire wrapped iron core transformer like on a power pole.

Actually plain magnetic transformers are fine to dim. The only concern is that this can generate more heat than would normally be there when not dimming. This can be a concern if you're using a load equal to the transformer's rating, but if you have a 75W transformer and a 50W or smaller lamp then you won't have any problems. Magnetic transformers labeled as dimmable simply take the derating into account for you.

You're right, though, that it's probably an electronic transformer as they're smaller and more efficient. Hatch, Lightech, and others all make dimmable electronic transformers for 12V lamps in a variety of sizes. Some will work correctly with a standad SCR or TRIAC based wall dimmer, but some require an ELV (reverse-phase) dimmer.

 

[gafftaper]

Our video of Fred Foster demonstrating the Mini for CB at USITT is now up and running here in the USITT 2013 Convention subforum.

 

[JohnD]

Online sales info from a couple of vendors:
ETC Source Four Mini - PNTA
NEW ETC Source Four Mini | NewLighting.com on New Lighting - New Stage and Theatrical Lighting Equipment, LED Lighting, Trussing
4Wall is stating late April shipping. No discount prices yet. EDIT: which lamp? Is it the EXN which derekleffew mentioned up-stream? Or some other 50 watt, 12 volt MR-16, what happens if you put in the wrong one?

 

[llburg]

So according to the spec sheet, it looks like the 50w 35* version of this : http://www.ushio.com/files/specs/EurostarIR12V.pdf

 

[starksk]

So according to the spec sheet, it looks like the 50w 35* version of this : http://www.ushio.com/files/specs/EurostarIR12V.pdf

Correct.

 

[llburg]

So will any 50w, 35* MR16 work? What about LED retrofit lamps? Looking through the spec sheets on those, most specify they are not to be used in a totally enclosed fixture, which I'm guessing the Source Four Mini is. Has ETC done any testing on these?

 

[JohnD]

Merrily keeping this thread stitching along, some thoughts on the lamp.
http://1000bulbs.com/search/?q=eurostar+IR
It is interesting to note that the Eurostar IR 50w,35* is the most expensive of all of them. ETC lists lamp life at 4000hrs and ushio lists lamp life at 6000hrs, I wonder if this has to do with the enclosed nature of the fixture.

 

[JohnD]

I was looking around online and 4wall/newlighting.com shows late April shipping and PNTA shows a May 1st release date.

 

[JohnD]

Just saw this this morning, a sale price:NEW ETC Source Four Mini | Ellipsoidals on New Lighting - New Stage and Theatrical Lighting Equipment, LED Lighting, Trussing
And look at that, the video is courtesy of ControlBooth.

 

[DuckJordan]

I wonder if they asked first....

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk HD

 

[josh88]

I wonder if they asked first....

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk HD

It does say "provided by" now that could mean "thanks for making this for us to steal it"

 

[xander]

I like how the "Features" list the lamp twice with two different hour lives. And I'm not sure what they mean by "tool free lamp adjustment" when there is no bench focusing the lamp...

way to go 4wall

 

[Les]

And I'm not sure what they mean by "tool free lamp adjustment" when there is no bench focusing the lamp..

Hence, no tools needed!

 

[gafftaper]

It does say "provided by" now that could mean "thanks for making this for us to steal it"

"Please Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who."

The better question is, do we care? As long as there is still a CB logo at the start and ending, the answer is No! More people watching that video means more people learning about CB. If you Google "ETC Source 4 Mini" the number one result is that video and the number two is this thread. That makes dvsDave very happy.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[josh88]

I don't care whether they asked or not, I was just impressed that if they just used it on the site they did make a point to cite where it came from.


Via tapatalk

 

[JohnD]

And now, for the LED version:
http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/datashts/7063L1003_S4_Mini_LED_Datasheet_revB.pdf
PNTA says it will be available April 1st!!!!!
ETC Source Four Mini | Stage & Theatre Lighting Equipment | PNTA
So, was it at USITT?

 

[JChenault]

And now, for the LED version:
http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/datashts/7063L1003_S4_Mini_LED_Datasheet_revB.pdf
PNTA says it will be available April 1st!!!!!
ETC Source Four Mini | Stage & Theatre Lighting Equipment | PNTA
So, was it at USITT?

It was there. Slightly brighter ( or at least bluer ) than the tungsten version. Transformer on the side of the fixture. No DMX ( ie will not dim out to 0% smoothly). Did not get hot. That's about all the difference I saw.

 

[DavidNorth]

It was there. Slightly brighter ( or at least bluer ) than the tungsten version. Transformer on the side of the fixture. No DMX ( ie will not dim out to 0% smoothly). Did not get hot. That's about all the difference I saw.

Actually, it does dim to 0% smoothly....sorry we didn't show that there. It is indeed possible to dim LEDs to 0% smoothly and R+D departments need to start figuring out how to do this. Coming up from 0% is more difficult.

David

 

[JChenault]

Actually, it does dim to 0% smoothly....sorry we didn't show that there. It is indeed possible to dim LEDs to 0% smoothly and R+D departments need to start figuring out how to do this. Coming up from 0% is more difficult.

David

David

You might want to spread that meme internally. The rep I talked to said it would cut out at the low end.