why do they specify maximum wattage for the bulbs?
Lights generate heat. The wattage limit is to avoid damaging the lamp socket or the wiring and risking a fire. If you’ve ever looked at old wires when a ceiling fixture is removed, the insulation is often crumbling. It’s gotten too hot for too long, dried out, and become brittle. New fixtures have fiberglass insulation that is supposed to protect the wires up to the maximum wattage on the label. Over time, they will still become brittle, but more slowly. Nothing is forever. Obey the label. Low wattage compact fluorescents, if they fit, are sometimes a good solution to getting more light.
