Lighting switches

[Av8torTom]

Hi everyone. I'm working on my panel and I'm seeking input on switches to control lighting. I have FlyBoy's "The Works" wingtip position, strobe and landing lights. Wigwag is also an option. I noticed FlyBoy's also has a progressive switch that could be useful. Thoughts?

[Waiex-guy]

I?ll throw what I have done into the mix for comments:

Switch one: OFF-NAV-NAV+COCKPIT

Switch two: OFF-BEACON-BEACON+STROBES

Switch three: OFF-PULSE-LAND

Gordon

[bjdecker]

Adding to the mix --

Strobe - On/Off
Nav - On/Off
Ldg Light - (Left wing) - On/Off
Taxi Light - (Right wing) - On/Off
Wig Wag - On/Off

The Wig Wag takes "priority" over the Ldg & Taxi (thank you Garmin G3X GAD-27)

Cheers!

B

[Av8torTom]

I've never flown with wig-wag. How and when is it used?

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

I've never flown with wig-wag. How and when is it used?

Typically wig-wag is used in high traffic areas, especially in the landing pattern, to make you more visible to other traffic.

[Av8torTom]

Mel, so in the pattern during the day I may want to have strobes and wig-wag and maybe even position lights on?

Then at night strobes, position and landing lights?

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

Mel, so in the pattern during the day I may want to have strobes and wig-wag and maybe even position lights on?
Then at night strobes, position and landing lights?

You can never have too many lights on. A friend of mine who flies for AA once told me that above 10,000' they have all the lights on. Below 10,000', they turn the rest of them on!

[Waiex-guy]

It?s addressed in an AC somewhere. NAV lights whenever there is power on the plane. Beacon from before start to after shutdown. Strobes (and wing/ice lights prior to taking the runway until clear of runway. Landing lights on when cleared for takeoff (not line up and wait). Use the wig-wag anytime you don?t actually need the landing lights, for us it?s all the time below 18,000, with the wing lights same.

When it?s actually dark we also throw in the logo lights to illuminate the tail.

[GalinHdz]

FWIW here is what I have.



Switch Panel Color code:
GREEN: Normally ON while operating the aircraft
BLUE: ON or OFF while airborne
YELLOW: Lights
RED: "Special" Situation(s)

Light Switches:
BEACON(G): Always ON (in case I forget to turn the master switch OFF before getting out of the airplane)
NAV(G): ON as soon as the alternator comes on line.
STROBE(B): ON prior to taking the runway and while airborne until clear of runway. The STROBE switch only has power if the NAV switch is ON so the NAV lights have to be on for the STROBES to work.
RECOG(Y): Also known as "Wig-Wag" mode, ON before I start to taxi.
LAND(Y): ON when cleared for takeoff then OFF once safely airborne. ON when cleared for landing then OFF once off the runway. LAND/TAXI mode overrides the RECOGNITION circuit so I don't accidentally get a flashing effect while landing or taxiing at night.

[BobTurner]

For many RV?s their strobes are also their ?anti-collision lights? (no beacon), so the rules are a little different. FARs require anti-collision lights to be on at all times, except off as required ?in the interest of safety?. For me this means on at all times during the day; on at night except when I might blind someone (taxiing near another airplane, runup or holding short with landing aircraft); off in the clouds if it bothers me (usually doesn?t).