No problem removing two bulbs; won't hurth anything and the open
part of the ckt where the bulbs were will still draw some
current, but a negligible amount. A ballast is a transformer so
an open secondary will cause very small primary (ac-house)
current.

"Walter R." wrote in message
...
: My kitchen ceiling has 4 light fixtures with 2 fluorescent
lights in each of
: them (T-12 4' long). This is too bright and wastes energy.
:
: I would like to deactivate 2 of the fixtures. Can I just pull
the 2 tubes
: out of 2 fixtures, but leave these fixtures (with the ballast)
connected to
: the house wiring?
:
: Would this damage the ballast? Would the fixtures, with the
ballast but
: without the tubes, still draw power? Or, should I disconnect
the wires to
: the fixtures (more trouble because I have to open the
fixtures)?
:
: Thank you
:
: --
: Walter
: www.rationality.net
: -
:
: