Editing Alps SKCL Yellow

{{TODO photo}}

{{infobox dswitch
| image name        = Alps SKCL Yellow -- infobox.jpg
| manufacturer      = [[Alps Electric]]
| family            = [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]]
| product code      = SKCLAR<br>SKCLFQ<br>SKCLFM 
| contact mechanism = [[Metal contact]]
| switch type       = Linear
| actuation force   = 58.8 cN
| switch mount      = [[Plate mount]]
| keycap mount      = [[Alps mount]]
| introduced        = ca. 1988<ref name="MouseFan" />
| discontinued      = ca. 1998<ref name="MouseFan" />
| precedes          = [[Alps SKBL Yellow]]
| supersedes        = [[Alps SKCL Green]]
}}

'''Alps SKCL Yellow''', or '''Yellow Alps''', is a linear switch in the "complicated" [[Alps SKCL/SKCM series]].

==Description==
Yellow Alps have an LED recess; the LED occupies the position where the tactile or click leaf should go. Typically this recess is left empty. It appears that switches ordered without an LED pre-fitted lacked the LED holes in the lower shell.

Yellow Alps appears to be the longest-running product in the SKCL/SKCM series. It appears to have been introduced around 1988, with approximately two years' overlap with [[Alps SKCL Green]]; the latter appears to be slightly lower in force. The earliest Yellow Alps switches had long slits and no Alps logo, but by 1990 or so the mould had been replaced with one with the Alps logo and short slits. The SKCLAR/SKCMCQ data sheet along with MouseFan's data suggests that the slits were never removed.

==Variants==
Known variants include:

{| class="wikitable"
! Switchplate Color !! Switchplate Length !! Alps Logo !! Generation
|-
| White || Short || Logo || Pine (with slits)
|}

{| class="wikitable"
! Part number !! Description !! Source
|-
| SKCLAR || No LED fitted?   || 1994 catalogue
|-
| SKCLFQ || Red LED fitted   || 1994 catalogue
|-
| SKCLFM || Green LED fitted || 1994 catalogue
|}

==Keyboards==
<div style="-moz-column-width: 20em; -webkit-column-width: 20em; column-width: 20em; max-width: 65em; /* Three columns */">
*Some ASkeyboard Sono1<ref name="ASkeyboard" />
*C.itoh CIT482F<ref name="citoh"/>
*Some Emerson KCLEA907L<ref name="Emerson2" />
*Emerson KFCLEA916A<ref name="Emerson" />
*Graphite 101-key<ref name="Graphite" />
*Some [[IBM Multistation Keyboards]] (IBM 5556)
*Intecolor AGS<ref name="Intecolor" />
*Mitsubishi M-6905-1 & M-6905-1N<ref name="SPARC" />
*NEC PK-KB015 (USB)<ref name="MouseFan-PK-KB015" />
*NEC PC-9801-114<ref name="PC-9801-114"/>
*NEC PC-9801-98-S02 M-System<ref name="PC-9801-98-S02"/>
*Packard Bell KCLEA907L<ref name="rzwv-KCLEA907" />
*Some Reudo Rboard Pro<ref name="Reudo"/>
*Some [[Sharp X68000]]
*Sharp Personal Workstation<ref name="SPARC" />
*Sharp UE-1K02<ref name="SPARC" />
*Unisys K32B<ref name="Unisys2"/>
*Unisys KB1<ref name="Unisys"/>
*[[Zenith 163-73]]
*Some [[Zenith Z-150]]
*Some [[Zenith ZKB-2]] & [[Zenith ZKB-2R | ZKB-2R]]
</div>

==Keypads==
*Some IBM Micro Cadam LPFK (Lighted Program Function Keyboard)<ref name="LPFK"/>

==As LED Keys Only==
*Some [[Focus FK-5001]]
*Some [[Focus FK-8000]]
*Some [[Wang 725-3770]]/3771
*[[Wang 725-7231-US]]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Alps SKCL Yellow vs SKCM Amber.jpg          | Colour comparison with [[Alps SKCM Amber]] (right)
</gallery>

===Yellow vs Green===
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Alps SKCL Green and Yellow -- strength.jpg  | Unscientific strength comparison
File:Alps SKCL Green and Yellow -- springs.jpg   | Return spring comparison
</gallery>

===SKCLAR===
The following used switches originated in a [[Zenith ZKB-2]] AT keyboard.<ref name="GH-ZKB-2" /> They are assumed to be SKCLAR as they match the [[1994 Alps catalogue]] specification. Being shipped without LEDs fitted, the base does not accept LEDs without suitable holes being drilled into it.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Alps SKCL Yellow -- side.jpg                | Side view
File:Alps SKCL Yellow -- rear view.jpg           | Rear view
File:Alps SKCL Yellow — no LED holes in base.jpg | No LED holes in base
</gallery>

===SKCLFQ===
The following switches are NOS surplus from China. They are assumed to be SKCLFQ (per the 1994 Alps catalogue) based on their characteristics.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- top.jpg              | SKCLFQ (SKCLAR+red LED) and SKCLAR (no LED)
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- front.jpg            | Front view
File:Alps SKCLFQ -- side view.jpg                   | Side view
File:Alps SKCLFQ -- base detail.jpg                 | Adapted base design; note LED leg holes
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- bases from below.jpg | Bases, seen from below
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- bases.jpg            | Base comparison; note the clearance recess for the LED in the securing tab on the left switch (SKCLFQ)
File:Alps SKCLFQ -- LED recess.jpg                  | LED recess
File:Alps SKCLFQ -- LED retention.jpg               | LED retaining shelf
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- internals.jpg        | Internals
File:Alps SKCLFQ and SKCLAR -- return springs.jpg   | Return springs
</gallery>

==Specifications==
*[[:File:Alps Electric -- spec -- 5454 31.pdf|5454_31]] (SKCLAR and SKCMCQ)

==References==
<references>
<ref name="MouseFan">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/alpsk.htm ALPS] (Japanese only) Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref>
<ref name="rzwv-KCLEA907">ちゃたりたいね — [http://kbd.rzw.jp/alps/packard_bell_kclea907l/ PACKARD BELL KCLEA907L ALPS茶軸リニア] (Japanese only) Dated 2013-08-25. Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref>
<ref name="MouseFan-PK-KB015">MouseFan — [http://mousefan.telcontar.net/image/pkkb.htm NEC PK-KB015 USB JAPAN] (Japanese only) Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref>
<ref name="SPARC">Atelier Silencium — [http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~silencium/keyboard/html/ax.html AX & Alps Bigfoot Keyboard] (Japanese only) Dated 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2015-07-21.</ref>
<ref name="GH-ZKB-2">geekhack — [https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39351.0 FS (Price Drops): Zenith (linear green alps) & SGI case]</ref>
<ref name="Graphite">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vmoe-vTv5I&ab_channel=mcmaxmcmc Graphite 101-Key Keyboard Typing Video]Posted 2019-10-24.</ref>
<ref name="Intecolor">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ118LinWgc&ab_channel=mcmaxmcmc Intecolor AGS Keyboard Typing Demo]Posted 2020-09-03.</ref>
<ref name="LPFK">Reddit — [https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/is9cie/japanese_ibm_micro_cadam_lighted_program_function/ vintageJapanese IBM MICRO CADAM Lighted Program Function Keyboard (LPFK) from 1991] Posted 2020-09-13.</ref>
<ref name="Unisys">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YBWNP5MvdU Unisys KB1 review (Alps SKCL Yellow)] Uploaded 2020-07-03.</ref>
<ref name="PC-9801-114">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvOQu0tBK8I&ab_channel=mimizu NEC PTOS Keyboard PC-9801-114 ALPS Yellow Switch] Uploaded 2012-02-16.</ref>
<ref name="PC-9801-98-S02">Xahlee.info — [http://xahlee.info/kbd/nec_m_type_1992.html NEC PC-9801 Keyboard, 1992] Updated 2020-05-06.</ref>
<ref name="Emerson">Imgur — [https://imgur.com/a/g7j5oKz Emerson KFCLEA916A (Alps SKCL Yellow) (Credit:SantiGoIt)] Originally posted 2019-09-13.</ref>
<ref name="Unisys2">YouTube — [https://youtu.be/yFeCFptUEXM Unisys Keycorp K32B F&M Typing (Alps SKCL Yellow) 빈티지 알프스 황축 기계식 키보드 타건] Uploaded 2021-01-24.</ref>
<ref name="ASkeyboard">Atelier Silencium — [http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~silencium/keyboard/html/alps.html Keyboards with Alps switches] Dated 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2021-10-13.</ref>
<ref name="Reudo">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgC1LGCKtM&ab_channel=TypeRetro Reudo Rboard Pro for Mac Keyboard Typing (Alps SKCL Yellow switch) 빈티지 알황 키보드 타건] Uploaded 2020-10-17.</ref>
<ref name="citoh">YouTube — [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJUTyzFFDPg C.itoh CIT482F Keyboard Typing Demo Alps SKCL Yellow] Uploaded 2022-06-27.</ref>
<ref name="Emerson2">Imgur — [https://imgur.com/a/U0WqD0K Emerson KCLEA907L (Alps SKCL Yellow)] Uploaded 2023-02-23.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Alps SKCL/SKCM series]]
[[Category:Keyboard switches with Alps mount]]
[[Category:Metal contact switches]]
[[Category:Linear switches]]
[[Category:List of all keyboard switches]]