FAA INSPECTOR COMMENTS TO THE SO THAT THE EXIT LIGHTING IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT IS DIM AND LATER AGREES WITH THE CAPT THAT THEY ARE SATISFACTORY. HOWEVER; THE ONLY ITEM HE MENTIONED ON THE DEBRIEFING AFTER THE FLT WAS THE INITIAL PROB WITH THE EMER LIGHTS.

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ON AN EARLY MORNING DEP; AN FAA INSPECTOR MET US AT THE ACFT DOOR. DURING PREFLT HE REQUESTED THE FE TURN ON THE EMER EXIT LIGHTS. NOT A NORMAL PREFLT ACTIVITY FOR OUR OP AS IT DEPLETES THE BATTERIES. THE INSPECTOR RPTED TO THE FE WHO IN TURN RPTED TO ME; AS CAPT; THAT THE LIGHTS IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT WERE DIM. I RETURNED TO THE ACFT AND AFTER TURNING THE EMER LIGHTS ON; REQUESTED THE INSPECTOR POINT OUT THE AREA INVOLVED. ALL LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; IN MY ESTIMATION AND HE AGREED. WE DEPARTED 6 MINS LATE AND THE REST OF THE FLT WAS ROUTINE. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE FLT; I ASKED THE INSPECTOR FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS; AS IS MY HABIT. HE STATED 'NONE' OTHER THAN THE INITIAL EMER EXIT LIGHT PROB; INDICATING TO ME THAT HE FELT WE HAD OPERATED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING SYS. I OPERATE AN ACFT WITH THE ATTITUDE 'IF IT AIN'T BROKE; DON'T FIX IT.' HOWEVER; THE NEXT ENCOUNTER OF THIS KIND WILL RESULT IN A LOGBOOK ENTRY REQUIRING A THOROUGH MAINT INSPECTION AND PROLONGED DEP DELAY.