Our bathroom fan uses four-pin CFL bulbs just like shown here:
https://www.amazon.com/FDS18E35-18W-...s=FDS18E35%2F4

One burned out so I ordered up some replacements but a generic brand version instead of the Panasonic. I got a three-pack but none of them worked after I plugged them in. I have a multimeter; on which two pf the four pins should I touch the two probes to, and what setting do I set the multimeter so I can check for continuity to see if these new bulbs are no good or what. thanks

 

There are no filaments in those lamps which means there is nothing to check with a meter.

Did you try swapping them where there is a working one ?

 

I have an identical fixture (each of these fixtures, in the laundry room and in the bathroom have two of these type lamps) in the laundry room that had both lamps working, for absolute sure. So I tried removing one of the working lamps from the laundry room and installing it into the bathroom fixture. There, it didn't work. I was kind of surprised about that. So I then tried taking that same lamp and installing it back into the laundry room fixture. Then, it didn't work, even though it was just working before I removed it from the laundry room fixture! I tried all three of the new lamps into both sockets in the bathroom, and also tried again the older lamp that worked before in the laundry room, into both sockets of the bathroom fixture; none of them would work. Needless to say I am quite baffled. I am now afraid to remove the one remaining working lamp from the laundry room fixture for fear that it will not work again if I try it elsewhere for further testing, or may not work again even in the same socket after removing it. Any further advice appreciated.

 

I figured it out. I had been leaving the light switch on the ON position while changing out the lamps. Apparently when you do that with these type of lamps, the lamps won't turn on. You have to make sure the light switch is switched OFF, then replace the lamps, then switch the switch to ON.
All my new lamps are fine, as is the one that was previously working.

 

There ya go. Learn something new every day.

 

Actually I showed my wife what was going on. She said "I think you have to have the switch off when you change it". I said "naw that wouldn't make any difference". So she said let's try it anyway. So we did. Then it all worked.
Think I'll start listening to her more often.

 

Think I'll start listening to her more often.

 

"naw that wouldn't make any difference"