PA-28 pilot reported smoke in the cabin led to a return to the departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	1595225
Time
Date	201811
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Lighting
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 44 Flight Crew Total 314 Flight Crew Type 33
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

I was acting as PIC; with two passengers. The other person in the front of the aircraft was an instrument pilot; and filed the flight plan for me since my ipad was in the plane and we were in the FBO; he filed under his own name. Everything was routine except the use of the panel lights; as this airplane does not fly at night very often. During climb out; smoke began entering the cockpit at a rapid rate; accompanied by the smell of electrical fire. Immediately executed a 180-degree turn back to ZZZ and [advised ATC]. Immediately began shutting down electrical systems with the exception of the radio; EFIS; digital engine monitor; GPS; and transponder. Upon shutting off the lights; the smoke stopped generating and began to dissipate. Did not fully dissipate until we were on the ground and evacuated from the aircraft. Made a fast approach to runway X with no flaps and cleared the runway. Evacuation followed; and no fire retardant was used on the aircraft. Aircraft has been grounded pending inspection by our mechanic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA-28 pilot reported smoke in the cabin led to a return to the departure airport.

Narrative: I was acting as PIC; with two passengers. The other person in the front of the aircraft was an instrument pilot; and filed the flight plan for me since my iPad was in the plane and we were in the FBO; he filed under his own name. Everything was routine except the use of the panel lights; as this airplane does not fly at night very often. During climb out; smoke began entering the cockpit at a rapid rate; accompanied by the smell of electrical fire. Immediately executed a 180-degree turn back to ZZZ and [advised ATC]. Immediately began shutting down electrical systems with the exception of the radio; EFIS; digital engine monitor; GPS; and transponder. Upon shutting off the lights; the smoke stopped generating and began to dissipate. Did not fully dissipate until we were on the ground and evacuated from the aircraft. Made a fast approach to Runway X with no flaps and cleared the runway. Evacuation followed; and no fire retardant was used on the aircraft. Aircraft has been grounded pending inspection by our mechanic.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.