New Light Bulb Offers Breakage Protection

By Andrew Davis on January 19, 2010

In December 2007, Congress—in all of its brilliance (no pun intended)—decided to ban incandescent light bulbs. Starting with an initial phase-out in 2012, with a complete cull completed by 2014, Thomas Edison's wondrous invention will be no more. Well, with the exception what you can find on the black market.

Out with the old, in with the new, I suppose.

You may have noticed the recent invasion by the horrendously ugly twists of glass and plastic known as Compact Flourescent Lamps (CFL). These are the government-mandated replacements of our beloved incandescent bulbs.

Unfortunately for our health and our environment, CFL bulbs contain vastly higher amounts of mercury than incandescent bulbs, to the point where some municipalities and local governments have banned their disposal in household garbage. Broken CFL bulbs can expose those who come in contact with it to toxic levels of mercury, which is a serious problem in households with children and pets.

But, this is where ClearLite has found their niche in the market.

ClearLite Holdings, Inc., a company based in Boca Raton, FL, has released a new CFL that is encased in a hard, clear cover coated with an opaque skin called SX-4000 (a fancy term for silicon). The coating helps contain broken glass and exposure to mercury after a light bulb break.

The ClearLite ArmorLite casing is composed of two layers. The surface is a thin coating of a silicon material. Underneath the coating is hard layer of plastic. Both act as a containment system in case of a break.

The exterior silicon coating is easily pierced or cut, and the bottom layer of hard plastic is easily shattered. My first thought was that upon breakage, the sharp plastic would pierce the soft silicon coating. However, a blunt-force test showed the two layers acting together were surprisingly effective at containing a break.

(see video and pictures at the conclusion of the article)

Repeated hammering failed to yield a breach of the rubber sheath.

The downside to the ClearLite bulbs is that of any CFL.

The 'flicker' rate of CFL bulbs has been reported to cause migraines in some individuals. Additionally, because CFL bulbs are more energy efficient, they produce less heat, which makes them especially prone to icing-over in freezing temperatures. Let's not forget that CFL bulbs can be many times more expensive than incandescent bulbs (for example, a four-pack of 60W incandescent bulbs at Walmart costs $3.16, compared to a four-pack of 60W-equivalent CFL bulbs for $16.88) .

Oh, and you have to leave CFL bulbs on for 15 minutes at a time in order to get energy savings that supposedly make up for the higher cost. So, if you're in the habit of turning lights on and off frequently—such as in bathrooms, closets, lamps, hallways, guest rooms—CFL bulbs probably aren't a fit for your lifestyle.

Brass Tacks

Bottom line:
CFLs are the current light du jour among greenies and consumers thinking they'll save a few bucks. And, without a change in the law, they are here to stay. Unfortunately, CFLs carry their own baggage that seems to overshadow the inefficiencies of their predecessors.

CFLs will undoubtedly improve over time, especially if consumers demand better CFLs for lack of an incandescent alternative. The ClearLite bulb, with its ArmorLite safety-shield, is a clear sign of the evolution of these types of bulbs. Unfortunately, ClearLite's faults are those of any CFL. And, it may be a long time before the technology of CFLs match consumer needs.

ClearLite CFLs are expensive, even compared to other CFLs. A 14 watt (comparable to a 60 watt incandescent bulb) will cost you at least $7.99, whereas a spiral-shaped 14w CFL may cost a few dollars less.

I can't remember breaking a light bulb in my adult life, so--my aversion to CFLs aside--I couldn't justify the extra money for the added protection provided by ClearLite. However, parents with small children might find the investment worthwhile.

Lighting is important in achieving a quality living environment in a home. And, as prices for CFL bulbs are much higher than what consumers are used to paying for lighting, it's important to spend your money wisely and effectively. CFL bulbs are great for living areas where lights are commonly used for prolonged periods of time. And, ClearLite CFLs may be good for these types of areas where children often play. In other areas like closets and bathrooms, where lights are turned on and off quickly, I recommend stocking up on incandescent bulbs while you can.

Outlaw light bulbs, and only outlaws will have light bulbs.

Now, if only I could figure out how to get rid of two broken CFLs.

Positives:

• "SX-4000" Shield. The ArmorLite coating provides protection from mercury and glass if the bulb is broken.
• Haut Monde. Only the lighting elite have ClearLite ArmorLite bulbs.
• $$$. More energy efficient (when used at least 15 min. at a time) than incandescent bulbs.

Negatives:

• It's a CFL. ClearLite bulbs are prone to all the shortcomings of other CFL bulbs, including an annoying "warm-up" time where the bulb is dimmer than normal.
• Expensive. For many, the extra cost will not be worth it.
• Lack of availability. A "Froogle" search for ClearLite ArmorLite bulbs showed only three stores carrying these bulbs.

Concerns:
While the ClearLite ArmorLite coating proved exceptionally robust during a blunt-force test, a break caused by a sharp object may compromise the protection shield.

Pleasant Surprise:
The bright white bulb (as opposed to the soft white version) emits a very nice and clean light.

Bonus