Alps SKCL Series

Alps SKCL Series
Manufacturer	Alps Electric
Switch Type	Linear
Travel	3.5mm
Sense method	Metal contact
Mount	Plate mount
Rated lifetime	20 million cycles

The Alps SKCL Series was a long-running series of switches manufactured by Alps Electric (and the Korea-based Gold Star Alps partnership) between 1983 and 2001.

The switch was likely in production from 1983 to around 1989. The switch was replaced for the second generation by SKCL Yellow, with both switches existing side-by-side for a short time.

Due to its long lifetime, SKCL Green can be found with all of the common long contact module variants (i.e. black, grey and white).

There was an earlier variant with notches on both sides of the stem and a longer spring positioning pole in the bottom housing. Aside from these changes, it does not appear to be any different to regular SKCL Green in any qualitative way.

It is possible that the part number for the switch is SKCLAC as this part number is directly adjacent to the part number for SKCL Cream which is SKCLAD. “SKCLAC” is listed at several obsolete switch part sellers with no pictures to confirm.

The switch was likely in production from 1983 to around 1989. The switch was replaced for the second generation by SKCL Gray.

The switch was most commonly used as a spacebar switch in keyboards using SKCL Green, though it has also been used as a main switch in a considerably smaller number of keyboards.

There is a heavier variant requiring significantly higher force to actuate that is marked with black marker, similar to other heavy switches in the line. It is doubtful that this is a catalog switch.

SKCL Lock is an alternate action switch that was likely introduced in 1984 and was on sale for the entirety of the first generation. There is a follower arm that moves along a track in the stem to generate a locking action wherein the switch stays depressed until pressed again.

Not much is known about the switch, an unfortunate trend across all Alps switches produced by the Gold Star Alps partnership. It appears to be an analog for SKCL Cream, but used in full keyboards more commonly than its Japanese counterpart.

Not much is known about the switch, an unfortunate trend across all Alps switches produced by the Gold Star Alps partnership. It appears to be mostly used as a spacebar switch in keyboards containing Alps SKCL Brown.

There is an additional variant, often referred to as “Striped Amber” that appears to be a custom order (as denoted by 'lipstick marking' on the slider). This differs from the black marker used for heavy switches in the regular SKCM/SKCL line, but is not necessarily indicative of anything as the switches were not manufactured in the same plants. This switch has a significantly lighter spring (~55g), similar to SKCM Blue - it appears different visually, but this is likely due to the smaller diameter of the spring post in the first generation SKCL stem. It has only been seen in a single keyboard, which lends credence to it either being a custom order or factory mystery.

The switch was likely in production from 1988 to around 2001. The switch replaced SKCL Green, with both switches existing side-by-side for a short time.

Due to its late discontinuation, SKCL Yellow is likely one of the latest surviving switches from the series, alongside SKCM Black.

The switch was likely in production from 1988 to the late 1990s. The switch replaced SKCL Cream.

The switch was most commonly used as a spacebar switch in SKCL Yellow keyboards.

There is a heavier variant, similar to the heavier variant of SKCM Blue that has also only been seen in NEC keyboards. It has an operating force of around 120gf3) and is also incredibly unlikely to be a catalog switch.

SKCL Lock returned for the second generation with a new part number of SKCLJC, shorter contact module and gray colored, unlubricated stem.