COCKPIT LIGHTING

[rmb823]

I have downloaded some aircraft for FSX, and all the outside lighting works fine. But I have no cockpit panel lighting. How can I repair this. It works great if you just fly in the day time hours however at night the panel is just black you cannot see anything. Anyone have any ideas.

Thanks
Bob

[garymbuska]

I have downloaded some aircraft for FSX, and all the outside lighting works fine. But I have no cockpit panel lighting. How can I repair this. It works great if you just fly in the day time hours however at night the panel is just black you cannot see anything. Anyone have any ideas.

Thanks
Bob

can you tell us what and where you downloaded?

[rmb823]

I downloaded the MD 11 from Simviation for FSX

[garymbuska]

The first thing you need to check is the airraft Cfg file and look for the following line
[electrical]
;BusType, MaxAmpLoad, MinVoltage BusTypes:0=MainBus,1=AvionicsBus,2=BatteryBus,3=HotBatteryBus,4-7=Generator/AlternatorBus(1-4)


light_panel = 0, 5 , 17.0
The abovve line tells FSX which bus the panel uses
Then look for this section
[LIGHTS]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -52.22,-103.52, 11.38, fx_navredh ,
light.1 = 3, -52.22, 103.52, 11.38, fx_navgreh ,
light.2 = 3, -54.34,-103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.3 = 3, -54.34, 103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.4 = 3,-139.00, 0.00, 8.42, fx_navwhih ,
light.5 = 2, -51.00,-103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.6 = 2, -51.00, 103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.7 = 1, -5.00, 0.00, -6.25, fx_beaconb ,
light.8 = 1, 22.00, 0.00, 18.30, fx_beaconh ,
light.9 = 4, 93.21, 0.00, 8.75, fx_vclighth ,

The bold line tells you which light it uses. You need to have that light in your main effects folder
Without this light you will not have a lighted cokpit

[pegger]

I don't know about that advice Gary.
Based on the coordinates of the light fx that you bolded, I would say that is the white tail light, and not the cockpit lights.

Perhaps the OP could post a screenshot showing the problem.

[garymbuska]

The first thing you need to check is the airraft Cfg file and look for the following line
[electrical]
;BusType, MaxAmpLoad, MinVoltage BusTypes:0=MainBus,1=AvionicsBus,2=BatteryBus,3=HotBatteryBus,4-7=Generator/AlternatorBus(1-4)


light_panel = 0, 5 , 17.0
The abovve line tells FSX which bus the panel uses
Then look for this section
[LIGHTS]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -52.22,-103.52, 11.38, fx_navredh ,
light.1 = 3, -52.22, 103.52, 11.38, fx_navgreh ,
light.2 = 3, -54.34,-103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.3 = 3, -54.34, 103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.4 = 3,-139.00, 0.00, 8.42, fx_navwhih ,
light.5 = 2, -51.00,-103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.6 = 2, -51.00, 103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.7 = 1, -5.00, 0.00, -6.25, fx_beaconb ,
light.8 = 1, 22.00, 0.00, 18.30, fx_beaconh ,
light.9 = 4, 93.21, 0.00, 8.75, fx_vclighth ,

The bold line tells you which light it uses. You need to have that light in your main effects folder
Without this light you will not have a lighted cokpit

I am just going by what it says on the top line and according to it 4= cockpit
I am just trying to show him where to look
Besides that this is from a FS9 aircraft but they should be the same
Besides that from the post sound like he is new to FSX as he is not familiar as where to find things.
Just trying to give him a idea here that is all.

[pegger]

//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing
light.0 = 3, -52.22,-103.52, 11.38, fx_navredh ,
light.1 = 3, -52.22, 103.52, 11.38, fx_navgreh ,
light.2 = 3, -54.34,-103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.3 = 3, -54.34, 103.64, 11.38, fx_navwhih ,
light.4 = 3,-139.00, 0.00, 8.42, fx_navwhih ,
light.5 = 2, -51.00,-103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.6 = 2, -51.00, 103.40, 11.38, fx_strobeh ,
light.7 = 1, -5.00, 0.00, -6.25, fx_beaconb ,
light.8 = 1, 22.00, 0.00, 18.30, fx_beaconh ,
light.9 = 4, 93.21, 0.00, 8.75, fx_vclighth ,

[garymbuska]

That would make sense I was just going by what it said on the description . It just goes to show you can teach a old dog some new tricks
I really did not pay attention to the location otherwise I would have spotted that

[pegger]

No worries. We'll need to wait and see if the OP checks his effects, or provides a pic or more info to try and get to the bottom of the issue.

[rmb823]

I am new at this, and I don't know how to find the cfg file can you give me detailed instructions on how to do this.

Thanks much

Bob

[Fozzer]

I am new at this, and I don't know how to find the cfg file can you give me detailed instructions on how to do this.

Thanks much

Bob

Find the Folder containing your Aircraft.
Open the Folder.
Locate the "aircraft.cfg" file.
Open it...(it will open in Notepad).

Always SAVE a copy of it BEFORE you make any alterations to it!

All the files you need will be in the Folder containing your aircraft!

C/.....FSX > Sim Objects > Airplanes > your file.... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[garymbuska]

The quick way to find where FSX is installed at is to simply right click on the shortcut than click on properties.
The default location is C:/Program Files OR Program Files(86) 64 bit system only/Microsoft Games/FSX.
Than look in the Sim Objects folder under Aircraft than just click on the aircraft folder than click on the Aircraft.CFG file
Than follow Paul's advise this is not that hard to do once you get the hang of it.
Just remember like Paul said ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF ANY FILE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING. Failure to follow this will lead to problems you do not want
If you still need help just ask and someone here will be more than glad to help out.

[rmb823]

Thanks guys I did find the cfg file added the vc line to it an now the lights work. Just one more question if I have any other aircraft that the cockpit lights don't work can I add that same line to there cfg file.

Thanks Again for all the help

Bob

[garymbuska]

Thanks guys I did find the cfg file added the vc line to it an now the lights work. Just one more question if I have any other aircraft that the cockpit lights don't work can I add that same line to there cfg file.

Thanks Again for all the help

Bob

I do not see any reason as to why not. One thing I for got to mention is what ever you do NEVER down load anything directly into any version of FS.
What I and most others do is to make a folder called aircraft and down load into it then unzip in the same folder than move everything to where it belongs.
Be careful of any download that has a self installer as some of these are really bad news as the person does not know enough to install correctly. That and the fact that you do not know what or where things are being installed. If you have any questions about any download just ask here
Just remember the golden rules of FS
rule 1 make a back up before you do any thing
rule 2 do not install something that you are not sure of what it is going to do
rule 3 A ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure