Do empty T5 light banks use electricity?

[MikeD]

I was thinking about getting a aquactinics fixture - it has 7 banks but I would only need 5 for now (at least I'll have the others available later..), if I don't put bulbs in two of the spots, does it still drain the same amt of electricity? Is it harmful for the unit?

Mike

[colotl]

Some ballast won't work if you take a lamp off line. It will sense an interuption and shut down or continue to pulse till it reactivates the lamp.

[Malla]

I have an aquactinics tx5. Two of the bulbs are on a separate switch, with it's own power cord. I'm not sure what the 7 bulb fixture has, but you may be able to just turn off that switch, not plug it in and not have any bulbs in that spot.

HTH