Editing Tai-Hao APC series

{{TODO finish|notes=research is still ongoing}}

{{infobox dswitch
| image name        = Tai-Hao APC series.jpg
| manufacturer      = [[Tai-Hao]]
| product code      = 
| switch type       = Clicky; tactile; linear
| actuation force   = 45, 55, 65, 70 and 75 g
| contact mechanism = [[Metal leaf]]
| switch mount      = [[Plate mount]]
| keycap mount      = [[Alps mount]]
| introduced        = ca. 1990–91
| lifetime          = 20M
| bounce time       = 10 ms
}}

'''Tai-Hao APC series''' is a range of [[Alps clone]] switches manufactured by [[Tai-Hao]].

==Description==
APC switches have the same approximate shell design as other [[four-tab clone]] switches. Internally they are very similar to other Alps clone switches, with the current generation of switches using the same narrow copper-based click leaf.

According to Tai-Hao, the APC series was introduced a year or two after [[Tai-Hao Aruz]],<ref>Conversation with Tai-Hao</ref> which has a confirmed sighting of 1989. It was previously misunderstood that the APC series was introduced in 1984 or 1985, but 1990 or 1991 is consistent with the apparent appearance of Alps clone switches around this time.

The contact design of APC is derived from that of the Aruz switch. It remains uncertain whether [[Hua-Jie AK series]] or Tai-Hao APC series arrived first; it is however confirmed that Himake were involved with the Aruz switch, and both switch series started out extremely similar.

==Specification==
Specification for current, unbranded switches:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Bounce time||< 10 ms
|-
|Total travel||4.5−0.5 mm
|-
|Pretravel||2.1±0.5 mm
|-
|Operating force||45±10 gf, 55±10 gf, 65±10 gf, 75±10 gf
|-
|Lifetime||20 M cycles
|}

==Recognition==
{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone internals--CP, front, APC.svg
| object name          = Front contact plate
| object description   = Square, with one finger, and top and bottom reinforcement recesses; almost identical to that of the [[Simplified Alps Type IV switch]]
}}

{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone internals--CP, rear, APC newer.svg
| object name          = Rear contact plate (newer)
| object description   = Small, no holes, and with the characteristic recess-reinforced leg
}}

{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone internals--CL, mantis.svg
| object name          = Click leaf (newer)
| object description   = Narrow, copper-coloured "mantis" [[click leaf]]
}}

{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone internals--CP, rear, APC older.svg
| object name          = Rear contact plate (older)
| object description   = Large, no holes, and with the characteristic recess-reinforced leg
}}

{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone externals--APC.svg
| object name          = Shell
| object description   = All APC switches are four-tab clones
| object name 2        = Numbering
| object description 2 = NW:A##, or NW:##A<ref name="APC-alt-numbering" /> (alphanumeric [[Mould numbering|numbering]], top-left)
}}

{{Switch recognition characteristic
| image name           = Alps clone internals--APC 3.svg
| object name          = Shell
| object description   = The lower shell of some more recent switches can be rotated 180°
}}

==Variants==
===Branded===
Branded "APC"; white [[slider]]; clicky; extremely similar to the unbranded [[Simplified Alps Type IV switch|Type IV simplified]] with a wide steel click leaf.<ref name="KBtalKing_branded" /> Likely to be discontinued variants within the APC range.

A Packintell Electronics–branded [[Key Mouse]] keyboard registered with the FCC in 1989 has been found with a mixture of branded and unbranded switches, giving a rough idea of when the branding was removed.<ref name="Packintell" /> The keyboard's manufacture date is not known.

===Unbranded===
These are the production switches. All switches have the typical narrow copper-based [[click leaf]]. The only known tactile variant (BSW 045WHN) uses a modified click leaf with shallower angles on the hooks to allow the slider to pass without generating a click.

Presently (July 2017) only three switch types are in active production, two standard weight types for keyboards and one heavy weight for machinery; other types can still be manufactured on request.<ref name="C2017-07" /> BSW 280WH was previously blue-green, but is currently vivid "neon" green, and is available for sale and was included in a group buy at Reddit.<ref>Reddit — [https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/651j2z/gb_taihao_apc_switches_alps_style/ {{sq|GB}} Tai-Hao APC Switches (ALPS Style) : mechmarket]</ref> BSW 055WH was previously teal or dark blue, but is now made in the sky blue colour formerly used by BSW 045WH. Likewise, BSW 065WHN is white, while previously it was listed as black.

{| class="wikitable"
!Part number||Slider colour||Type||Force
|-
|BSW 055WH||Sky blue||Clicky||55 g
|-
|BSW 065WHN||White||Linear||65 g
|-
|BSW 280WH||Green||Clicky||280 g
|}

===Discontinued===
{| class="wikitable"
!Part number||Slider colour||Type||Force||Notes
|-
|BSW 045WH||Sky blue||Clicky||45 g||
|-
|BSW 045WHN||Red||Tactile||45 g||
|-
|BSW 055WH||Teal||Clicky||55 g||Old colour (see above)
|-
|BSW 055WHN||Brown||Linear||55 g||
|-
|BSW 065WH||White||Clicky||65 g||
|-
|BSW 065WHN||Black||Linear||65 g||Old colour (see above)
|-
|BSW 075WH||White||Clicky||75 g||
|-
|BSW 075WHN||Black||Linear||75 g||
|-
|BSW 070WH||White||Clicky||70 g||
|-
|BSW 070WHN||White?||Linear||70 g||Unconfirmed
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:APC BSW range as of 2012.jpg                                | BSW range as of 2012, excluding the 75 g and 280 g switches
File:APC switch line-up.jpg                                      | Sample of some production switches in 2013
File:Alps.tw Type OA3 -- APC branded, steel click leaf.jpg       | Vintage branded APC with wide steel click leaf, from a 1992 [[Tai-Hao APC-1]]
File:Alps.tw Type T2 -- APC unbranded reversible base, white.jpg | Unidentified modern white switch, from a 1995 [[Tai-Hao Butterfly Keyboard]]
File:Taiwan Tai-Hao APC BSW 055WH.jpg                            | BSW 055WH from a 2011 [[Wintek WK750]] (F21-7D)
</gallery>

===BSW 045WH===
<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WH switches.jpg                      | Assorted
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WH -- disassembled, top views.jpg    | Disassembled, top views
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WH -- disassembled, bottom views.jpg | Disassembled, bottom views
</gallery>

===BSW 045WHN===
BSW 045WHN is a 45 g tactile switch. Tactility is achieved by straightening the hooks on the click leaf, such that the slider passes it without pulling it forward. This gives a level of tactility somewhere in the region of half of that of [[Cherry MX Brown]], and the switch does not click. In contrast, [[SMK second generation]] switches achieved the same effect by chamfering the slider and using a virtually identical click leaf to that found in their clicky switches.

<gallery widths="250" heights="187">
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WHN -- assorted.jpg       | Assorted
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WHN -- opened.jpg         | Opened
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WHN -- disassembled 1.jpg | Disassembled, view 1
File:Tai-Hao APC BSW 045WHN -- disassembled 2.jpg | Disassembled, view 2
</gallery>

==Keyboards==

*[[Tai-Hao F21-7D]] and OEM customer varants:
**AZiO Levetron Clicker (KB528U)
**Rosewill Striker RK-6000
**Wintek-WK-750
**Gview K7
*Some [[KPT KPT-84]] keyboards
*Packintell-branded Key Mouse keyboard<ref name="Packintell" />

==Specifications==

*[[:File:Tai-Hao -- spec -- APC BSW 055WH.pdf|APC BSW 055WH]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="APC-alt-numbering">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8/alps-what-type-t4053.html ALPS what type?]</ref>
<ref name="KBtalKing_branded">KBtalKing — [http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/8366 ㊣ALPS軸類零組件比較㊣] (Chinese only) Dated 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="Packintell">Geekhack — [http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=10659.0 New guy needs help identifying keyboard & Alps-like sliders] Posted 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2015-07-23.</ref>
<ref name="C2017-07">Correspondence with Tai-Hao, 2017-07-31</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Tai-Hao switches]]
[[Category:Clones of Alps SKCL/SKCM switches]]
[[Category:Metal contact switches]]
[[Category:Clicky switches]]
[[Category:Tactile switches]]
[[Category:Linear switches]]
[[Category:Keyboard switches with Alps mount]]
[[Category:Production switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]