Troubleshooting

Bixolon SRP-330III error lights and printing problems: fixes

What the Error and Paper lights on the SRP-330III mean and how to fix paper end, cover open, cutter jams, blank receipts, Windows, serial and network problems.

10 min Difficulty: Easy Updated: By SCANSHOP team
In this guide

    The SRP-330III shows its state with three lights: Power, Error and Paper. Match what you see to the table, then open the fix. Not sure whether the printer or the computer is at fault? Run a self-test: hold FEED while you switch the printer on.

    Find your symptom

    What you see Likely cause Fix
    Error and Paper lights on Paper roll empty Fix 1 →
    Error light on, paper loaded Printer cover not fully closed Fix 2 →
    Paper not cut, cover won't open Cutter blocked by paper Fix 3 →
    Paper stuck, crumpled or not feeding Paper jam or dirty roller Fix 4 →
    Receipt blank, faint or patchy Roll the wrong way round, dirty head or unsuitable paper Fix 5 →
    No lights at all No power Fix 6 →
    Self-test prints, Windows prints nothing Driver, port or print queue Fix 7 →
    Random characters on the receipt Serial settings or wrong driver Fix 8 →
    Network printer not found IP address, cable or port Fix 9 →

    Normal: after a self-test a light blinks while the printer waits. Press FEED briefly to continue.

    Fixes

    1. Paper endError and Paper lights on

    CauseThe paper end sensor found no paper.

    Fix

    1. Push the cover-open lever and open the printer cover.
    2. Remove the empty core and drop in a new 80 mm roll, in the direction shown in Bixolon's manual.
    3. Pull out a little paper and close the cover by pressing firmly on its centre.

    Rolls whose paper end is glued to the core may not be detected correctly.

    2. Cover openError light on with paper loaded

    CauseThe cover-open sensor reports that the printer cover is not fully closed.

    Fix

    1. Open the cover and check that nothing is caught under it.
    2. Close the cover by pressing firmly on its centre.
    3. Cutter jam, cover won't openPaper not cut, cover locked

    CausePaper is caught in the autocutter and the blade has not returned home, so the cover stays locked.

    Fix

    1. Switch the printer off and on again. For a small jam this can return the blade by itself.
    2. If the cover still won't open, switch the printer off. Never force the cover open: it can damage the cutter.
    3. Lift the cutter cover at the paper outlet and remove it.
    4. Turn the knob with a cross-head screwdriver, as shown in Bixolon's manual, until the blade is fully back inside.
    5. Push the cover-open lever, remove the jammed paper and refit the cutter cover.
    6. Switch the printer on.
    Important

    Keep your fingers away from the cutter blade and the hot print head.

    4. Paper jamPaper stuck, crumpled or skewed

    CausePaper is caught in the paper path or the outlet was blocked during printing.

    Fix

    1. Switch the printer off and on, then open the cover and remove the crumpled paper. If the cover won't open, use Fix 3.
    2. Clean the paper roller and paper sensor with a cotton swab or a dry cloth.
    3. Reload the roll, close the cover and keep the paper outlet clear while the printer prints.
    5. Blank or faint receiptsPaper feeds but the print is missing or pale

    CauseThermal paper reacts on its coated side only, so a reversed roll prints blank. Pale print usually means a dirty print head, unsuitable paper or low density.

    Fix

    1. Blank receipt: turn the roll round and check the direction against the picture in Bixolon's manual.
    2. Faint or streaky print: switch off, open the cover, remove the paper, let the print head cool and wipe it with medical alcohol. Bixolon recommends cleaning at every roll change.
    3. Use thermal paper 50 to 80 µm thick; Bixolon recommends papers of 60 to 75 µm.
    4. Still pale? Raise the density with "2: Set Print Density" in the virtual memory switch menu (see the setup guide) and save with "0: Exit and reboot printer".
    6. No powerAll lights off

    CauseThe adapter is not connected properly or the power switch is off.

    Fix

    1. Check the power cord at both ends and that the DC plug sits fully in the power port, flat side facing down.
    2. Switch the power switch on.
    3. Use only the Bixolon adapter supplied with the printer. Still dark? Contact us with the serial number.
    7. Nothing prints from WindowsSelf-test works, print jobs don't

    CauseThe printer works, so the problem is on the computer: no Bixolon driver, the wrong port, or the wrong printer selected.

    Fix

    1. Check that the cover is closed, paper is loaded and the Error light is off.
    2. Install the Software POS Windows Driver from the Bixolon download page, if it isn't installed yet.
    3. Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners, open the printer properties and check on the "Ports" tab that the port matches your connection: USB, the right COM port, or the printer's IP address.
    4. Click "Print Test Page", then check that your POS software prints to the SRP-330III.
    8. Garbled charactersRandom symbols or missing text

    CauseDifferent serial settings on computer and printer, or software that sends another brand's commands.

    Fix

    1. Serial: set the same baud rate, parity and handshaking in the driver or POS software as in the printer.
    2. Print through the Bixolon driver, or select a Bixolon or compatible receipt printer in your POS software.
    3. To see exactly what the printer receives, use hexadecimal dump mode: with the printer off, open the cover, hold FEED while you switch on, then close the cover. If the printer asks you to choose a mode, select the hexadecimal printing function. Switch off and on again to leave the mode.
    9. Network printer not foundSRP-330IIIESK over Ethernet

    CauseThe printer has no IP address, an address in a different network, or the software uses the wrong port.

    Fix

    1. Print the network settings: open the cover, hold FEED for about five seconds, close the cover, then press FEED once briefly and hold it for one second ("1: LAN Information Print").
    2. No IP address on the printout: check the network cable on another device and make sure your router hands out addresses by DHCP.
    3. The address must be in your computer's network: with subnet mask 255.255.255.0, the first three numbers must match.
    4. Use port 9100 in the driver and POS software.
    5. Setting a fixed address? Check first that no other device uses it.

    Lost network settings: choose "2: LAN Factory Reset and Reboot Printer" in the same menu to return to DHCP.

    Frequently asked questions

    What does the Error light on the Bixolon SRP-330III mean?

    The printer has stopped because of a problem such as no paper or an open printer cover. Load paper or close the cover firmly and the light goes out.

    How do I open the SRP-330III when the cover is stuck?

    Switch the printer off and on first. If that doesn't help, switch off, remove the cutter cover at the paper outlet, turn the cutter knob until the blade is back inside and then open the printer cover.

    Why are my SRP-330III receipts blank?

    The paper roll is probably the wrong way round, or the paper is not thermal paper. Turn the roll round so the coated side faces the print head.

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    Used in this guide

    Compatible consumables and accessories for the SRP 330III.

    Compatible receipt rolls

    ProductWidth Length Roll ØCorePrice
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 80 mm, 40 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3012973) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt301297380 mm — 40 mm12.7 mm3,63 €+VATIn stock
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 80 mm, 40 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3013287) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt301328780 mm 11.28 m 40 mm12.7 mm3,86 €+VATIn stock
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 80 mm, 40 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3013286) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt301328680 mm 15.54 m 40 mm12.7 mm4,86 €+VATIn stock
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 80 mm, 50 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3014861-T) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt3014861-T80 mm 26.52 m 50 mm12.7 mm7,27 €+VATOut of stock View
    Receipt Rolls, Citizen, Thermal Paper, 80 mm, 56 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3623200) Citizen Thermal Paper362320080 mm — 56 mm12.7 mm65,18 €+VATOut of stock View
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 58 mm, 40 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3013689) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt301368958 mm 15.54 m 40 mm12.7 mm2,76 €+VATIn stock
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 58 mm, 40 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3013690) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt301369058 mm 11.28 m 40 mm12.7 mm2,53 €+VATOut of stock View
    Receipt Rolls, Citizen, Thermal Paper, 58 mm, 48 mm, 12.7 mm, White (3621900) Citizen Thermal Paper362190058 mm — 48 mm12.7 mm45,19 €+VATOut of stock View
    Receipt Rolls, Zebra, Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt, Thermal Paper, 57 mm, 40 mm, 19 mm, White (3007158-T) Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt3007158-T57 mm 12.19 m 40 mm19 mm2,93 €+VATOut of stock View
    Thermal paper 80mm / 80m 12 g, for kiosk printers Thermal paper 80mm / 80m 12 gKK01926280 mm 80 m —12 mm9,28 €+VATIn stock

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    BIXOLON SRP-330III POS Receipt Printer (SRP-330IIIESK/BEG)144,54 €+VAT View product