I was looking at a desk lamp at ikea. The lamp specified "max 13 watts". The lamp is a standard screw type socket, not any sort of special CFL PL socket.
I looked at another desk lamp online, and it said "requires a 13 watt bulb".
What characteristic of these lamps restrict them to a certain watt bulb?
What would happen if I put in a 23 watt bulb? Would it possibly be unsafe? Would the 23 watt bulb not shine at its optimal brightness?
Best Answer
The construction and insulation of the socket assembly, the size and temperature rating of the wiring, the proximity and design of the shade... generally anything related to either electrical current or heat affects its wattage rating.
Using a bulb of higher wattage than the lamp is rated for means that wiring may be overloaded, causing it to heat up, and/or the structure of the lamp will heat up due to conduction and radiation from the bulb. Either can cause burns or fires.