My light bulb =/?
Question:I'm using a 75 watt bulb for my desk lamp and it when i get near it.it smells like smoke or some sort of burning odor. Is something wrong? It smells after even 10 seconds of being on
Answers:
I'd be surprised if a 75w bulb would be burning/scorching the socket/wiring. For liability reasons, the system is overengineered. But to be sure, you should unplug the lamp, remove the bulb, and examine the plastic shell of the bulb socket. If that's the problem, the plastic will be distinctly charred.
I'd guess a moth or some other bug has died in the lamp and you're smelling their little carcas roasting away. I once had a june bug immolate itself in a 500w halogen torchiere, and that put up a horrible stink.
Other possibilites are-
-a combusible lamp shade that's getting a little too toasty (ungain, unlikely that 25% increase in power of a 75w bulb over a 60w would make enough difference to affect anything)
-something on the bulb itself-- either something the fell into the lamp, or something transfered from your hands (oil, jelly, whatever).
Your lamp might have a label somewhere that says what the maximum wattage of your bulb should be. Use one that is 60 or less and see what happens, no smell! The lamp is overheating.
I suggest you use the 23 watts one or the 15 watts one. You are wasting to much light and you are killing the ozone with that burning smell. Your lamp can't even handle a 75 watt one. Use one with less watts.
Before you turn the lamp on again, unplug it, then thoroughly inspect it for damage - replace or repair as necessary
"luvlaketahoe" is correct. Few desk lamps are designed to handle larger than 60 watt incandescent bulbs. I too like the extra light from a larger bulb. I used to rewire the lamps w/ 14 gauge wire and a porcelain fixture. The porcelain fixtures are difficult to find now, so I use one of the readily available, fluorescents designed to replace regular incandescent light bulbs. A 100watt equivalent light output uses only about 23watts actual power.
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