Editing Kailh PG1511 series (section)

==Description==
PG1511 series switches are made by [[Kailh]] in China, and are branded "'''Kailh'''" or labelled "'''PG1511'''" (one or the other). They are available in clicky, linear and tactile versions, with support for both through-hole and SMD RGB LEDs.

Kaihua have published detailed comparisons between their switches and Cherry MX switches on their website; the photos at least are taken from a [http://mouse.zol.com.cn/229/2297497.html review posted at mouse.zol.com.cn].

Like with most Cherry MX clones, the internals of PG1511 series are virtually identical to genuine Cherry switches. One key difference is that PG1511 series switches do not have [[gold crosspoint]] contacts.

Bounce time for the SMD types is cited as 5 ms or less, at a keystroke rate of 3–5 keystrokes per second.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-SMD" />

===Lifetime===
Lifetime was originally cited as 50 million keystrokes.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-classic" /> The through-hole LED types are cited as having lifetimes of 60 million for the click type and 70 million for the linear and tactile types.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-RGB" /> The SMD LED version has a lifetime of 70 million keystrokes across all versions.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-SMD" />

===LED illumination===
====Through-hole====
PG1511 series adopted the use of all four of Cherry's base holes (inner holes for monochrome LED, outer holes for jumper or diode) for a single four-leg "DIP" through-hole RGB LED. Kailh cite the benefits of this arrangement as being:<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-RGB" />

*Better illumination by bringing the LED closer to the keycap
*Greater light output from a through-hole LED than an SMD LED
*Lower heat output from through-hole LED versus SMD LED
*Lower LED power requirements

Most "speed" types accept any LED types, but have no lateral support for LED legs. The bronze "speed" type only accepts two-pin through-hole and SMD LEDs; the exterior holes for jumpers, diodes and four-pin through-hole RGB LEDs are omitted to make way for the click bar.

====SMD====
PG1511 has also been adapted to accept SMD illumination. These versions have clear covers, and two wide holes for LED legs, to accept two- and four-leg through-hole LEDs as well as allow space to place an SMD LED under the switch. These are depicted on the PG1511 SMD page, although the diagrams still show the classic design.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-SMD" /> The pages for the reduced-travel versions do have diagrams for the new design.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-gold" />

===Click mechanism===
Most PG1511 series switches use a [[click collar]] to achieve audible feedback, derived from the Cherry MX design. The new bronze type (PG151101D188) uses a "click bar",<ref name="DT-click-bar" /> a rod spring pushed aside by the slider in a manner similar to a click leaf. The click bar design was first seen in the diminutive [[Kailh PG1350 series|PG1350 series]], and provides a distinct click on both press and release; the click bar does however remove the [[hysteresis]] from the switch.

===Travel===
Standard switch travel is the standard 4 mm with 2 mm pretravel; this is still the case for the SMD types.<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-SMD" /> Four additional designs have a reduced travel of 3.5 mm:

*A gold clicky type the 1.4 mm pretravel
*Bronze (clicky), copper (tactile) and silver (linear) types with 1.1 mm pretravel<ref name="Kailh-PG1511-bronze" /><ref name="Kailh-PG1511-silver" /><ref name="Kailh-PG1511-copper" />

Note that these colour names were taken from an AliExpress listing, as they are more convenient than Kailh's names. Kailh use "coppery" for the tactile switch, "golden" for the 1.4 mm clicky switch, and "thick golden" for the 1.1 mm clicky switch. The silver switch's slider has metallic pigment as with [[Cherry MX Speed Silver]], while the other sliders are matte.