To Light Up a Room, a Liquid-Filled Bulb

In the debate over the merits of incandescent light bulbs versus compact fluorescent lamps, LED bulbs have become a viable alternative. Switch Lighting is hoping to ride the wave of rising consumer interest with its own series of LED bulbs.

An LED Spot Bulb from myled.com

Switch assembled a team of engineers and physicists in its Silicon Valley headquarters in 2007, and produced a bulb last year with distinct design that has won several innovation awards.

The bulb incorporates technology that Switch calls a LQD cooling system, a patented design that bathes the LED with a coolant made of liquid silicone. The liquid diffuses the light over the surface of the bulb, producing light that is omnidirectional and illuminating a room similar to the way an incandescent does. The shape is similar, too, for those who prefer traditional A-series light bulbs.

The Switch bulbs turn on instantly, unlike fluorescent lighting, and are compatible with standard dimmers. Their durable design makes them much harder to break than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

But Switch bulbs are still relatively expensive, and they are hard to find. I had to do a little searching on the Web and found the Switch60 bulb at Batteries Plus for $50.

Make the investment now, Switch says, and you will be rewarded with lower electric bills for years to come. According to Switch, the bulbs have a lifespan of 25,000 hours, 25 times longer than an incandescent. They come in wattage equivalents of their incandescent counterparts; for instance, the Switch60 bulb emits 800 lumens, about the same as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

Switch says its bulbs can be used in any fixture, even enclosed, recessed or outdoors. However, I live in a tiny apartment in New York, and have none of those options. So I replaced the CFL bulb in a table lamp in my living room with a Switch bulb.

The light was warm, reminiscent of the incandescent bulbs I used to use, and not as white as the light from the CFL. This is a personal preference, but visitors noticed the difference in the quality of the light almost immediately, remarking that they had lost their ghostly pallor. Switch bulbs probably won’t appeal to everyone, but those who value good design from a premium product will appreciate them.

                                                                    This article is reprinted from GREGORY SCHMIDT