Alps SKCL Green

Alps SKCL Green

Manufacturer	Alps Electric
Family	Alps SKCL/SKCM series
Introduced	ca. 1983<ref name="MouseFan" />
Discontinued	ca. 1989<ref name="MouseFan" />
Precedes	Alps SKCL Yellow
Switch type	Linear
Sense method	Metal leaf
Actuation force	50 cN
Keycap mount	Alps mount
Switch mount	Plate mount

Alps SKCL Green, or linear Green Alps, is a linear switch in the "complicated" Alps SKCL/SKCM series.

Description

Linear Green Alps switches have an LED recess; the LED occupies the position where the tactile or click leaf should go; typically this recess is left empty. The slider is a different design, and reversible. By the debut of Alps SKCM Brown, the shell and slider were both redesigned, but linear switches kept the 1983-style shell for several years, and it appears that Linear Green Alps also retained the original slider design.

The exact relationship between Linear Green and Yellow Alps remains a mystery. While it's undisputed that Linear Green is older and that Yellow became its replacement, the two overlapped, and the reason for this is unknown. Zenith keyboards have been found with Green/Yellow and Yellow/Green pairings, with one type used for normal keys and the other type used for LED keys. Curiously, this even went as far as top-branded Linear Green Alps in a Zenith ZKB-2R.

As with Alps SKCL Yellow, it appears that the holes for the LED legs were not provided unless the switch was ordered with an LED fitted in the factory.

Linear Green Alps are highly regarded for being an exceptionally smooth linear switch.

Variants

Known variants include:

Switchplate Color	Switchplate Length	Alps Logo	Generation
Black	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)
Grey	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)
White	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)

Early Variant

Examples have been found of early SKCL Green Alps containing differently shaped sliders, top housings and bottom housings compared to typical SKCL Green Alps. Examples have also been found of early Alps SKCL Cream switches with the same unique features.

• 
  Top view of the early SKCL Green stem.
• 
  View of slider and top housing.
• 
  Another view of slider and top housing.
• 
  View of bottom housing.

Gallery

• 
  IBM JX-JW 6343690 with Green Alps switches
• 
  Colour comparison with SKCM Green and Ducky spec Xiang Min KSB-C
• 
  Side view
• 
  Rear view
• 
  Partially disassembled
• 
  Partially disassembled, top views
• 
  Partially disassembled, bottom views
• 
  Green Alps slider is a different design, and reversible
• 
  Green Alps switch with LED fitted, in a blue Alps Panasonic Business Partner 286 keyboard
• 
  Green Alps, LED version, borrowing the revised shell (Zenith ZKB-2R from June 1989)

Keyboards

• Some ADDS 1010<ref name="ADDS"/>
• Alps Electric CPLL00E0AA<ref name="Alps"/>
• Amada AMC-KB<ref name="amada"/>
• Some ASkeyboard Sono1<ref name="ASkeyboard" />
• Canon A200-AKB<ref name="subcat" />
• Some Unbranded (Possibly Chicony) KB-5150<ref name="kb5150"/>
• Some Chicony KB-5152
• Some Chicony KB-5160
• Some Chicony KB-5161
• Daikin Comtec<ref name="daikin"/>
• Some Datacomp DFK-515
• Some Epson AP1003A<ref name="Epson"/>
• Some Fujitsu Oasys keyboards (Part #: D04B-5730-B101)<ref name="Oasys"/>
• Some IBM JX keyboards (IBM 5511)
• Most IBM Multistation Keyboards (IBM 5556)
• JEC Super Survey G2E21-01<ref name="jec"/>
• Microterm 420 keyboard<ref name="Microterm"/>
• Microterm 5510 keyboard<ref name="Blaise"/>
• Mindset M-1002<ref name="HaaTa" />
• Mitsubishi Multi16<ref name="mitsu"/>
• Some NCR 4950
• Some NCR 4970<ref name="ncr"/>
• OAshift 98 KB1<ref name="oashift"/>
• Some Packard Bell KCLEA907L<ref name="Packard"/>
• Panasonic KX-E8283<ref name="ohaimark" />
• ROLM 46511<ref name="mcmaxmcmc" />
• Sharp MZ-1K10<ref name="SharpZ2"/>
• Sharp MZ-2521<ref name="SharpZ1"/>
• Sharp MZ-6500<ref name="SharpZ"/>
• Sharp WD-2000<ref name="SharpZ"/>
• Sharp X1 Turbo (DSETK0015CE01<ref name="Sharp"/>, DSETK0011CE00<ref name="sharpx1turbo" />, DSETK0006CE02<ref name="Yuchipashe"/>)
• Some Sharp X68000
• Tektronix 4230<ref name="tektronix"/>
• Texas Instruments TI-924 2229155-0001<ref name="Texas"/>
• Torch Triple X keyboard <ref name="Torch"/>
• Toshiba T1500<ref name="toshibat1500" />
• Wyse 00-600-02<ref name="wysegreen" />
• Wyse WYSEpc
• Zenith Z-029
• Some Zenith Z-150
• Some Zenith ZKB-2 & ZKB-2R
• Zenith ZFA-161-416 Portable<ref name="ZenithPortable" />

Typewriters / Word Processors

• Canon CanoWord Mini3, Mini5, Mini6<ref name="mini6"/> & Mini7
• Nippon Type NT-500<ref name="nippon"/>
• Sharp PA-1000H
• Sharp WD-500<ref name="sharp500"/>
• Sharp ZX-330<ref name="sharp_zx"/>

Keypads

• Canon VP1000 <ref name="canonvp"/>

Other Equipment

• Maxon PUE5 (PROGRAMMABLE MULTI EFFECTS)<ref name="pue5" />

As LED Keys Only

• Canon S-14<ref name="S-14" />
• Panasonic Business Partner 286
• Some Wang 725-3770/3771

References

<references> <ref name="MouseFan">MouseFan — ALPS Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref> <ref name="pue5">Pochi — Maxon PUE5 Dated 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref> <ref name="S-14">Deskthority — KBP V60 Build with SKCM Amber and Canon HiPros</ref> <ref name="ASkeyboard">Atelier Silencium — Keyboards with Alps switches Dated 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2021-10-13.</ref> <ref name="HaaTa">Deskthority — Mindset M-1002 Dated 2014-11-20.</ref> <ref name="mcmaxmcmc">YouTube — ROLM Model 46511 Keyboard Module Typing Demo Uploaded 2020-04-15.</ref> <ref name="subcat">Deskthority — Canon A200-AKB - ALPS SKCL Green/Cream Uploaded 2017-05-31.</ref> <ref name="sharpx1turbo">Deskthority — Sharp X1 Turbo Uploaded 2022-01-16.</ref> <ref name="toshibat1500">Deskthority — Any info on the Toshiba T1500? Uploaded 2021-12-09.</ref> <ref name="wysegreen">Geekhack — Green Alps ReviewPosted 2014-03-30.</ref> <ref name="ZenithPortable">Deskthority — Zenith ZFA-161-416 keyboard - Green AlpsPosted 2016-01-11.</ref> <ref name="ADDS">Imgur — ADDS 1010 Terminal Keyboard - Green AlpsPosted 2014-05-10.</ref> <ref name="Blaise">Deskthority — (Preview) Blaise's Current Keyboard Collection Posted 2018-03-27.</ref> <ref name="Yuchipashe">Deskthority — Yuchipashe's Yahoo Auction Haul Pt. 1 Posted 2019-10-09.</ref> <ref name="Torch">Imgur — Torch Triple X (XXX) Keyboard Uploaded 2020-09-03.</ref> <ref name="Texas">Geekhack — FS: RARE+COOL:: Hall Effect!, IBM Refurbs, New stuff, vintage kbs and radio stuf Posted 2012-07-25.</ref> <ref name="Sharp">Deskthority — User:Blaise170 Updated 2019-12-13.</ref> <ref name="sharp_zx">Deskthority — Sharp ZX-330 Typewriter Posted 2017-09-04.</ref> <ref name="SharpZ">Biglobe — ALPS key switch Updated 2014-03-02.</ref> <ref name="Alps">YouTube — Alps Electric Model CPLL00E0AA Keyboard Typing Demo Uploaded 2022-03-20.</ref> <ref name="Epson">Imgur — Epson AP1003A (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2022-04-26.</ref> <ref name="Packard">Imgur — Packard Bell KCLEA907L (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2022-04-26.</ref> <ref name="Oasys">Imgur — Fujitsu Oasys (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2022-05-02.</ref> <ref name="Microterm">Deskthority — Help identify my keyboard Posted 2020-10-19.</ref> <ref name="kb5150">Imgur — Unbranded (Possibly Chicony) 5150 XT Style Keyboard (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2022-07-03.</ref> <ref name="mitsu">YouTube — Mitsubishi Multi16 Keyboard Typing Demo Uploaded 2022-07-07.</ref> <ref name="ohaimark">Deskthority — Ohaimark's Collection Uploaded 2016-10-16.</ref> <ref name="jec">Twitter — [1] Uploaded 2022-07-31.</ref> <ref name="SharpZ2">Imgur — Sharp MZ-1K10 - SKCL Green Uploaded 2022-12-24.</ref> <ref name="tektronix">Imgur — Tektronix 4000 Series Keyboards Uploaded 2022-12-24.</ref> <ref name="daikin">YouTube — Daikin Comtec Keyboard Typing Demo Uploaded 2022-08-11.</ref> <ref name="ncr">Imgur — NCR 4970 (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2022-12-25.</ref> <ref name="sharp500">Twitter — SHARP WD-500 (ALPS SKCL GREEN 黒接点) Posted 2019-02-23.</ref> <ref name="mini6">Twitter — Canon canoword mini6 (ALPS SKCL GREEN 灰接点) Posted 2019-02-17.</ref> <ref name="nippon">Twitter — 日本タイプライター(NTC) NT-500 (ALPS SKCL GREEN 黒接点) Posted 2019-02-17.</ref> <ref name="canonvp">Imgur — Canon VP1000 Numpad (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2023-01-10.</ref> <ref name="SharpZ1">Imgur — Sharp MZ-2521 (Alps SKCL Green) Uploaded 2023-04-10.</ref> <ref name="oashift">Twitter — [2] Posted 2022-09-28.</ref> <ref name="amada">Twitter — [3] Posted 2022-09-04.</ref> </references>