Oh, boy. I'll try...in layman's terms.
First,
here is a site that helps decipher entries in the aircraft.cfg file. Unfortunately, it is a little cryptic regarding the entries in the two sections you listed.
For the [lights] entries, the first entry (4) is for type or circuit. The next three entries are coordinates relative to the aircraft datum. I envision the aircraft model to have three axis which create the datum - longitytude along the aircraft axis, latitude or horizontal to the aircraft axis, and height or elevation above the axis. A positive value is in front of that datum, whereas a negative value is below.
The first value of 23.00 would be 23 units in front of the datum center. The second value of 0 is offset from the aircraft center which in this case is none. The third number of 2.00 would be height above the aircraft center or axis.
The [smokesystem] coordinates (and others) work as described except without the first entry identifying the type or circuit. Most likely because they are controlled elsewhere, like with a gauge associated with the panel. Only way I've tracked down a specific gauge is to examine the associated *.cab file and read individual *.xml scripts. Never been able to edit, but at least I can understand the code.
BTW - notice the negative values for the first coordinate in the [smokesystem] entries for the burner effects? That's to place them at the back of the aircraft, whereas the vclight in the [lights] section is in front of the aircraft.
If you plan to experiment, here's a suggestion. First make a copy of your panel.cfg. Before you edit a specific line, keep a copy of the original. Something like this:
//light.0 = 4, 23.00, 0.00, 2.00, fx_vclight_red
light.0 = 4, 22.00, 0.00, 2.00, fx_vclight_red
Hope that helps.
