Cold-and-dark?

[sniperpr1]

I tried setting up a default flight for a cold-and-dark condition, but even though everything is shut off, the battery is still running all avionics. Can someone tell me exactly what items are supposed to be in the off position? I have the master avionics off, the master battery switch off, every switch in the off position, but still everything electric and electronic is on. I do not understand. Is there something that I could have left out?

Thanks

[Flying papab]

I tried setting up a default flight for a cold-and-dark condition, but even though everything is shut off, the battery is still running all avionics. Can someone tell me exactly what items are supposed to be in the off position? I have the master avionics off, the master battery switch off, every switch in the off position, but still everything electric and electronic is on. I do not understand. Is there something that I could have left out?

Thanks

Try "SHIFT +M"

[dc4bs]

You can also look at assigning a key to "Master Avionics" (no key set by default).

I used ctrl+shift+P for "avionics Power"...

-dc4bs

[Brushstrokes]

Apu

[freddy]

I have the same issue ... try to set for cold and dark ... but my avionics power (battery master) remains ON despite the positions of the switches. I have tried SHIFT+M to no avail. I click the switches to the OFF position in the 2D and the 3D (Virtual) cockpit and they do move to OFF, but the Alternator lights are still lit and the radio is still chattering away on Com1.

Is there a solution to this?

[Tim_A]

What aircraft is this? Have you achieved 'cold and dark' with one of the default aircraft?

[alexm]

What aircraft is this? Have you achieved 'cold and dark' with one of the default aircraft?

Yep. Try saving a default a/c cold & dark, then changing to your aircraft. Re-save.

[freddy]

I only have default aircraft. I do not have any installed third-party or downloaded aircraft.

Previously I did have "cold and dark", but one day it changed and the alternator was simply "on". I have no idea how or why. Flipping battery, generator or avionics master switches has no effect.

I have tried deleting my saved file and creating a completely new one. I have tried different aircraft. Default Cessna, default Baron, default Mooney. No change. I even deleted my FSX.cfg file and let FSX create a brand new one.

None of my efforts have succeeded. Any other suggestions?

[dc4bs]

Well, if all else fails, try this: "FSX Cold And Dark Cockpit" (cdx.zip)

It's a default FSX flight of a Cessna 172 with everything turned off and empty fuel tanks sitting on the tarmac at an airport.

Follow the included instructions to make it your default flight.

1: Start FSX and "fly now".
2: Change airports to wherever you normally start your flights and then slew the 172 to your favorite parking spot.
EG: I changed it to Teterboro, NJ and put it at the gate I like to park at.

3: Save the flight now that you've made your changes and make sure "use as default flight" is checked.

Now whenever you start FSX, that will be your default startup conditions (Cessna 172, cold/dark, favorite start location all preset). Once you get to the welcome screen, you should be able to select any plane and it should be cold and dark when you "fly now!".

I have to do it this way as I use the Wilco Citation X. It has a bug that does not let it load flight plans into the FMC properly if you start a flight directly in the X. You need to start your flight with a default plane, create and/or load your plan and get ATC approval (stop before requesting taxi). I turn on only the battery and avionics switch to use the radios then turn them back off when done. THEN switch to the Citation X pre-configured for cold/dark startup and everything works perfectly including loading the FMC with the flight plan already accepted by the ATC in FSX. 2nd choice is start with the X and have to load the plan into the FMC "by hand". Not a big deal for short hops but very tedious if you are flying long haul as the X has a max range of 3000 NM... Lots and lots of waypoint entering tedium there...

So far, the above is the only really annoying thing about the Wilco X. Other than the extra steps required for startup, I love it.

[freddy]

Thankyou for the link.

Interestingly, last night, my FSX loaded and my Baron was on the ramp "cold and dark". Alternator lights were off. Problem fixed. What had I changed? I had moved some graphics sliders to the left to gain some frames. Perhaps this issue is related to a lack of available memory to load textures or something?

But, no. Unfortunately, when I tried testing this theory, I could not reproduce it. Despite me making further slider changes to the left (or right), FSX and my Baron loaded up with the alternator lights on again ... every time.

So, it appears to have "fixed itself" for a "once only" time. But then reverted back to "broken" again (and it remains broken as I type this).

Strange.