I/O reading Problem

do you have pull up resistors on the inputs ?

are the outputs doing anything ?

also

you need the additional ifs to have an else in front of them otherwise you will have the situation where only if A and B are low will both outputs be low if b input is high then it will always override input a

so what you should be getting is this:-

A=HIGH and B=HIGH = output 8=  LOW, 7 = HIGH

A=LOW and B=HIGH = output 8=  LOW, 7 = HIGH

A=HIGH and B=LOW = output 8 = HIGH, 7 = LOW

A=LOW and B=LOW = output 8 = LOW, 7 = LOW

if you wanted this

A=HIGH and B=HIGH = output 8=  HIGH, 7 = LOW

A=LOW and B=HIGH = output 8=  LOW, 7 = HIGH

A=HIGH and B=LOW = output 8 = HIGH, 7 = LOW

A=LOW and B=LOW = output 8 = LOW, 7 = LOW

if (lightA == HIGH){
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  }
 else if (lightB == HIGH){
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
    digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
  }
  else{
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
    digitalWrite(7, LOW);
  }

Well when I start the program on the Arduino both of the lights turn on and I do have resistors on the outputs.

what about the inputs ?, im assuming some kind of pull up on the inputs and a switch to short to ground ?

also you are not setting the outputs to any state after initializing them to output

do this

void setup(){

     pinMode(13, INPUT);

     pinMode(12, INPUT);

     pinMode(8, OUTPUT);

     pinMode(7, OUTPUT);

      digitalWrite(8, LOW); 

      digitalWrite(7, LOW);

}

I had been using a regular 220Ω resistor for the inputs and I didn't have a switch to ground so ill add that and ill have to revise my script. Thanks! 

Pin 13 has the LED across it, so not a good choice for an input.

it will tend by low all the time.

By default the Outputs are low when you set them as an output, however its a good practice to set the state JUST so you know.

My guess it needs resistors between the pin and ground.

The switch is likely to go from +5v to the pin

  else{

   digitalWrite(8, LOW);

    digitalWrite(7, LOW);

otherwise you'd need to hold the switch all the time.

You could try this which compiles and should work.

int LightA = 12;  // set the outputs
int LightB = 13;  // set the outputs
int ButtonA = 7;  // set the input ** Add a resistor from the pin to ground, switch goes from 5v to the pin
int ButtonB = 8;  // set the input ** Add a resistor from the pin to ground, switch goes from 5v to the pin

void setup()
{
 pinMode(LightA, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(LightB, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(ButtonA, INPUT);
 pinMode(ButtonB, INPUT);
}

void loop()
{
  digitalRead(ButtonA);
  digitalRead(ButtonB);
  digitalWrite(LightA, ButtonA);
  digitalWrite(LightB, ButtonB);
}

}

This link here gives good information about what is happening with the pins.

http://www.baldengineer.com/tutorials/arduino-pull-ups/

mark