Bubble Light Process & Safety
– Bubble lights use a toxic and possibly carcinogenic liquid, usually methylene chloride.
– The liquid is sealed in a glass vial or capsule to prevent its release.
– If the vial is broken, the area should be evacuated until the fumes dissipate.
– Some older bubble lights used lightweight oil or camphor to create the low boiling point.
– Methylene chloride, the liquid used in bubble lights, is toxic and potentially carcinogenic.
– Broken vials should be handled carefully, and the area should be evacuated until fumes dissipate.
– Bubble lights should be kept upright and occasionally tapped or shaken to start bubbling.
– The top of the tube should be cooler than the bottom for optimal operation.
– Less-toxic modern imitations of bubble lights are made from acrylic or clear plastic with fixed or color-changing LEDs.
Bubble Light Designs
– Bubble lights were originally made with a miniature screw base (E10) for 15-volt operation.
– Early designs were often packaged with a nine-socket string to extend bulb life.
– Modern bubble lights use candelabra base (E12) 120-volt bulbs or push-in wedge base midget size miniature bulbs.
– The plastic base of bubble lights comes in various colors, including red, yellow, blue, and green.
– The liquid in the tube can also be colored, with options like amber, red, blue, green, purple, or pink.
– Glitter is sometimes added to bubble light vials for extra sparkle.
– Bubble light bases now come in various designs, including Santa Clauses, snowmen, and decorative objects.
– Bubble lights have been adapted for Halloween use with orange-colored liquid and Halloween-themed bases.
– Modern bubbling lights can be larger and sit on a table or floor, often with fake swimming fish.
– Some bubbling lights use distilled water, airstones, and an air pump for the bubbling effect.
Bubble Light History
– Bubble lights were patented in the US by Carl W. Otis in 1944.
– NOMA, one of the largest American manufacturers of Christmas lights, introduced bubble lights in 1946.
– Other manufacturers of bubble lights included Raylite, Royal Electric Company, and Good Lite/Peerless.
– Bubble lights were popular Christmas lights from the 1940s to the 1970s.
– They gained popularity before miniature fairy lights became the preferred choice.
Bubble Light Variations
– Modern bubble lights can be larger and sit on a table or floor, often with fake swimming fish.
– Some bubbling lights use distilled water, airstones, and an air pump for the bubbling effect.
Bubble Light Safety
– Methylene chloride, the liquid used in bubble lights, is toxic and potentially carcinogenic.
– Broken vials should be handled carefully, and the area should be evacuated until fumes dissipate.
– Less-toxic modern imitations of bubble lights are made from acrylic or clear plastic with fixed or color-changing LEDs. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_light
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2017) |
A bubble light is a decorative device consisting of a liquid-filled vial that is heated and illuminated by an incandescent light bulb. Because of the liquid's low boiling point, 39.6°C (103.3°F), the modest heat generated by the lamp causes the liquid to boil and bubble up from the vial's base thus creating a decorative effect.
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