EADT 737- GoFlight Hardware and the airplane's lights

kmeyers6

X-plane 10.5
Windows 7
EADT 737 v5.03

I'm attempting to use the GF-T8 switchs to control the aircraft's lighting (landing lights, taxi lights, nav lights, strobes). I've had success doing this with JROLLINS CRJ200 without the pollypot software, but I purchased the pollypot software just for this reason and I can't get it to work. When I flip the switch (for example, for the landing lights) the switch in the virtual. cockpit doesn't move at all, however in the external view, the landing lights do flash on for a split second then it seems like something within the aircraft's coding overrides my command and they turn right off. I have the same issues with several other payware aircraft. Please help!

admin_pps

Can you zip up the contents of My Documents\GoFlight Interface Tool and attach it to this thread so I can take a look at your config.

Thx

Steve

kmeyers6

This is a fresh install.  The only thing I did to it was try to program the landing lights on switch on my GF-T8-2.  I flip the switch, the LED light on my hardware stays on, but the landing light on the EADT 737 just flickers on and goes off again.  The virtual cockpit's switch doesn't budge.

kmeyers6

here's the file

admin_pps

Thanks. I'll experiment with your config and the aircraft and come back to you in a day or so.

Best wishes

Steve

Slayer

Probably using the wrong dataref or command. I've noticed on a lot of XP aircraft that 1 dataref will cascade into several others and if you modify the wrong one you will get an unexpected result, a crash or nothing will happen. The only way to truly see how things are working is using dataref tool or  dataref editor and monitor the datarefs in realtime.

I always run into a lot of snags like this and it just takes a little detective work to figure it out. The last 10% of a profile takes 90% of the time  :P

admin_pps

Hi,

I have created a few Bespoke Events for the lights that should hopefully get you started. Each one begins with BE and is self explanatory. E.g. BE_Taxi_Lights_ON.

You will need to use the Import Wizard to load the attached file. I have not assigned the Bespoke Events to any devices so the device options will remain disabled on the Import Wizard options screen. You may want to consider unticking Delete Existing Bespoke Events to keep yours in place.

Once they are in, you need to assign an ON Bespoke Event to the ON Input Event on a device and an OFF Bespoke Event to the OFF Input Event on a device. The GF T8 is ideal!

For the GoFlight LED's, you need to reference the Dataref used in the Bespoke Events e.g. x737/systems/exteriorLights/taxiLightsSwitch is On when its value is 1 and Off if its 0. They all use the same values except x737/systems/exteriorLights/positionLightSwitch which is -1 when its On.

Hope this helps, but any questions, let me know.

Best wishes

Steve

PS. I used version 503 of the EADT 737 for this.

PPS. You need the Battery, APU Running and the APU Gen switches clicked for the actual lights to work!

kmeyers6

I appreciate your help with this.  I downloaded the file, used the import wizard, enabled the first switch on my T8, fired up the battery, APU and APU Gens on the EADT 737 v503...but same results as before.  I feel like I'm way in over my head with this tool, unfortunately.  I know nothing about datarefs or really any of the inter-workings of x-plane/software.  I use the standard GF plugin for my other aircraft which makes it easy since it's just assigning functions to certain buttons/switches and I was hoping this tool would be the same way, but it's not as easy to work with as I had hoped.  I don't want people wasting too much of their time on me...it's just frustrating that this tool hasn't fixed any of my issues with my GF hardware talking to this airplane yet.  

I've attached a screenshot of the 1 thing I've been trying to work with.  

Slayer

First off are you trying to toggle all 4 landing light switches using 1 switch? or do you want a real representation of switch layout,  like what is in the aircraft? so you have the 2 extendable and 2 fixed each assigned to their own switch?

kmeyers6

I've been trying to do all 4 of them at once with just 1 switch, but I'm open to either option.

admin_pps

Hi,

The reason it is not working is that you have not referenced any of the work I did for you. Lets start off simple and configure the Taxi Lights. See the attached screenshots and notice the use of the Bespoke Event beginning with BE (these are what you must use) and the x737 DataRef for the LED's. One screen is for the ON Switch Event and the other shows the OFF Switch Event.

Best wishes

Steve

kmeyers6

Thank you very much!  That was very helpful and I was able to get ALL my lights working now.  The only minor issue I'm having now is that I can't figure out how to set a switch (or 2) in order to turn my NAV lights on (the position lights) separate from the strobes.  If anyone knows how to do that, please let me know- but thanks for all the help!!

admin_pps

I'll take a look at the weekend for you.

Best wishes

Steve

kmeyers6

Hey guys...back again- The lights are all working great still thanks to your help. Last thing that's bugging me is that I can't get the elevator trim wheel on my LGT-II to work with the EADT x737. When I spin the wheel, the trim indicator in the cockpit twitches but then returns right back to where it was. It's the same reaction I was getting with the light problem initially where the landing lights would switch on for a brief second but then it was like something was overriding the command and putting it right back to where it was. Any help on the elevator trim?