Real 737ng MIP / COCKPIT Lighting Controls

[Steve737]

Hi ,

Different posts seem to have different ideas on Lighting/Dimming control in a 737ng cockpit.
I need to know how the controls work on a real 737ng.

What controls/dims the Panel (Text) Backlighting on MIP , MCP , THROTTLE , CDU'S , PEDESTAL and OVERHEAD ?

What controls/dims the strip light above the MCP ?

What controls/dims the light under the MCP ?

What controls/dims the lights under the Glarewings ?

Best Regards
Steve

[Sean Nixon]

Captains and Centre MIP plus MCP backlighting (text) - dimmer switch on Captains lower sub panel labelled MAIN PANEL (below his PFD, on the same panel as the DU dimmers).

FO's MIP backlighting - dimmer switch on FO's lower sub panel labelled MAIN PANEL (below his PFD, located with DU dimmers).

TQ, CDU's & Pedestal backlighting - dimmer switch at the rear of the pedestal labelled PANEL. The dimmer next to this labelled FLOOD controls a floodlight in the overhead panel that shines onto the TQ.

Overhead backlighting - dimmer switch in centre of the forward overhead panel dims both the FWD & AFT overhead backlighting. The dimmer next to this labelled CIRCUIT BREAKER controls floodlights directed towards the CB panels. As far as I know, the CB panels are not backlit.

Strip light above MCP - dimmer on the Captains lower sub panel labelled AFDS FLOOD

Light under MCP and Glarewings - dimmer on the Captains lower sub panel labelled BACKGROUND

Sean

[Sean Nixon]

Captains lower sub panels

FO's lower sub panels

Centre pedestal

[Steve737]

Sean ,

Great .. that's clear...........
Now I can start to wire it.

Thanks again , Steve

[kikigey89]

Hi Sean,

at this time I am also working on a dimmer project for a 737NG simulator.
The text in the FCOM sounds like that BACKGROUND controls the backlight of all MIP panels and both MAIN PANEL knobs control the flood light on the MIP.
I found some homecockpit videos and some of the PMDG NGX where you can see the controls work like you described. But I found no video of a real 737NG. May I ask you for the source of your information?

Best regards,

Christoph

[Sean Nixon]

Hi Christoph

From the FCOM. I agree that the text in the FCOM is not that clear, but this is how I interpret it.

The BACKGROUND control is for the incandescent lights located under the MCP and in each glare wing, as this shot shows...

1326417.jpg

The MAIN PANEL control is for the MIP backlighting, just like the centre pedestal PANEL control is for it's backlighting and the overhead PANEL control is for it's backlighting.

I think the clues are in the words I've highlighted. I could of course be wrong, and I stand to be corrected should the case be otherwise.

Good luck with your project!

Regards

Sean

[kikigey89]

Hi Sean,

I found some very good picture on airliners.net that show that you are right!
On one picture you can see the BACKGROUND and FO MAIN PANEL knob in the OFF position but the CPT MAIN PANEL knob in the full right position. The only thing that is active is the CPT and center backlight.

Thank you!

Best regards,

Christoph

[Sean Nixon]

Can you please post a link to that photograph?

Sean

[kikigey89]

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Gol-L...76N/1483632/L/

Christoph

[Sean Nixon]

Good pic, nice find, thanks.

Also note that the FO's EFIS unit must also be controlled by his own PANEL control, but the Captains controls the MCP.

Sean