Clare/Pendar low-profile reed

Overview
Usage
- Keyboards
- Other equipment
Product range
- Known models
See also

Overview

SFL, SGL and SIL are three series of (for the time) low-profile reed switches from C. P. Clare. Originally manufactured by Clare in Belgium, production later transferred to Pendar in France. These series are identical in design to the North American Series S880, but the documented options differ. These switches were advertised alongside the high-profile reed types in catalogues. Unlike the high-profile reed switches, the low-profile design did not have the C. P. Clare branding moulded into the shell, so all such switches are solely stamped “CLARE” or “PENDAR”. The Pendar name continued to be used when ownership of the product line transferred to ESM.

Usage

Keyboards

PESA K-4722 Subtitler with Pendar SFL 5101 for most keys, and two SIL 5101 illuminated switches with the branding not shown; from 1987
“SEL Alcatel Bundeswehr”, ca. 1990; the only confirmed switch type is Pendar SFL 5101

Other equipment

Polar 115 EMC guillotine (Clare SFL 5102) control panel

Product range

The part number schema is defined in the catalogue as follows:

SSS TC0W

SSS

Switch series: see table below

T

Terminals and keystem:

1 = Sloped; 5 mm terminals
3 = Stepped; 5 mm terminals
5 = Sloped; 3.5 mm terminals
6 = Stepped; 3.5 mm terminals

C

Contacts: 0 = No contacts, 1 = 1 form A (SPST NO), 5 = 1 form A with diode

0

Low-profile reed is SPST only, so this position is always zero

W

Operating force: 0 = Fixed plunger, 1 = 50 gf, 2 = 80 gf

Operating force designations of 3 and 4 were not defined; if these codes are the same as for high-profile reed, then they would indicate 130 gf and 200 gf respectively.

The series are as follows:

Series	Type
SFL	Momentary non-illuminated
SGL	Alternate action non-illuminated
SIL	Momentary illuminated

Known models

The following models are known:

Model	Series	Branding	Terminals	Keystem	Diode	Force	Reference
SFL 1101	SFL	Clare	5 mm	Sloped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SFL 1501		Clare	5 mm	Sloped	Present	50 gf	Own collection
SFL 3501		Clare	5 mm	Stepped	Present	50 gf	Own collection
SFL 5101		Clare, Pendar	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection, PESA K-4722 Subtitler
SFL 5102		Clare	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	80 gf	Polar 115 EMC guillotine
SFL 5103		Pendar	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	130 gf?	Own collection
SFL 5501		Clare	3.5 mm	Sloped	Present	50 gf	Own collection
SFL 5502		Pendar	3.5 mm	Sloped	Present	80 gf	Own collection
SFL 6101		Clare	3.5 mm	Stepped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SFL 6102		Clare, Pendar	3.5 mm	Stepped	Absent	80 gf	Own collection
SGL 1101	SGL	Clare	5 mm	Sloped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SGL 1102		Clare	5 mm	Sloped	Absent	80 gf	Own collection
SGL 3101		Clare	5 mm	Stepped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SGL 5101		Pendar	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SGL 5102		Clare	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	80 gf	Own collection
SGL 6102		Clare	3.5 mm	Stepped	Absent	80 gf	Own collection
SIL 1101	SIL	Pendar	5 mm	Sloped	Absent	50 gf	Own collection
SIL 1104		Pendar	5 mm	Sloped	Absent	200 gf?	Own collection
SIL 5103		Pendar	3.5 mm	Sloped	Absent	130 gf?	eBay, eBay