My kitchen has a fluorescent lamp on the ceiling with 4 bulbs. Last week 2 of the bulbs went out and when we replaced them, but still they are not working. We went back to the store and got 2 new bulbs, still nothing. The bulbs twinkle like they want to lit up, but nothing happens. The other 2 bulbs are working fine. Do we need to replace the whole lamp?
:confused:

There is a ballast for each two lamps in a fixture like that. You can replace them one at a time, although replacing both would be a better idea.
I ONLY suggest this if you feel VERY confident working on this stuff. There is LETHAL voltage on the secondary side of a fluorescent ballast.

We changed the bulbs (fluorescent) twice... I don't understand about the ballast that needs to be replaced. Isn't that what we did? Im confused.
Sorry for asking so many questions.

Sorry, when I say "lamp" I mean light bulb. Force of habit using the correct term.

Each pair of lamps has a ballast, like a transformer, inside the cover between the lamp pairs.

One of these ballasts is bad. Replacing both is insurance, and will get you another 10-15 years out of the fixture.

Got it. It worked. Thanks.