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 first generation of the SKCL series ran from 1983 to 1989. All switches in the series share a similar construction, consisting of an upper housing (with slits), a lower housing, stem, spring and contact module.

There is an LED cutout in all standard linear switches. This could only be populated from the factory, as the holes required to mount an LED would not be drilled if the switch was not ordered with one. The LED cutout is used in the alternate action switch to hold a locking arm, and does not exist in the double action variant.

Stems were all factory lubricated and made of a nylon blend. The first generation of switches have only been seen with tall contact modules, either in black, gray, or white colors.

First generation SKCL stems are unusual compared to others in the series and are symmetrical, with no notches on either side. This is in contrast to later generations and even switches in the first generation of the SKCM series, which always had a notch.

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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.

The switch was likely introduced between 1983 and 1985 and was retained for the second generation, existing as late as 1994. The switch follows the general characteristics of the SKCL family, however there are many additional parts and changes. The housing is symmetrical, similar to SKCM Brown, the stem has a long pole and a recess for an actuator similar to the actuator in Alps SCK. The tabs on the bottom housing are not the full width of the switch, as opposed to other switches in the series.

There is also a second, brown switchplate with no actuator leaf (as the actuator is in the stem) and also a very stiff second spring in the base of the bottom housing to provide actuation feedback for the second stage.

There is another version of this switch with an amber stem that appears to have been present in arcade machines. Its part number, if any, is unknown.

During the first generation, a series of variant switches was manufactured in Korea under the Gold Star Alps partnership. Some of these switches appear to be analogs to switches in the mainline series, like SKCL Brown and the Gold Star SKCL Lock, whereas others are unique. It's unknown if production stopped here for the second generation or if Gold Star Alps started making identical switches.

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 second generation was in production from 1989 to 2001.

For the second generation, all contact modules became the short variant, and the stem material was changed to POM and the factory lubrication was removed. Intriguingly, the slits on the upper housing were never removed, suggesting there was no third generation of the SKCL series, unlike the SKCM series. SKCLKB was retained from the first generation.

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.