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Clare/Pendar high-profile reed

Contents

Overview

SF, SG, SH, SI and SK are all series of high-profile reed switches from C. P. Clare. Originally manufactured by Clare in Belgium, production later transferred to Pendar in France. Unlike with the pairing of the low-profile reed switches and Series S880, the high-profile reed switches are a different design from the North American Series S820 and the two families are not interchangeable. These switches were advertised alongside the low-profile reed types in catalogues.

Each switch shell has either “C. P. CLARE INT. MADE IN BELGIUM” or “CLARE” moulded into the shell. The model number and terminal layout is stamped separately in white ink. When the product line moved to Pendar, the shells were not changed, leading to Clare-branded shells stamped with Pendar branding, with some having both Belgian and French origin marked simultaneously. When the product line moved again to ESM, the Pendar branding was retained. The shell branding and stamps are illustrated below:

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“C. P. CLARE INT.”–branded shells, with Clare and Pendar stamps
View full-size image
“CLARE”–branded shells, with Clare and Pendar stamps

Usage

Keyboards

Product range

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

SS TCDW

SS
Switch sub-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, rear position: 0 = No contacts, 1 = 1 form A (SPST NO), 5 = 1 form A with diode
D
Contacts, front position: as above
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, 3 = 130 gf, 4 = 200 gf

The series are as follows:

Series Type
SF Momentary non-illuminated
SG Alternate action non-illuminated
SH Momentary non-illuminated; accepts illuminated keycaps (no lamp terminals or sockets)
SI Momentary illuminated
SK Alternate action illuminated

A terminal configuration of “01” uses the front terminal positions (normally used by the second pole) while the normal configuration of “11” uses the rear terminal positions. This difference can be observed in SF 6101 and SF 6011, which differ only in the location of the terminals.

Terminal and keystem configuration “2” indicates terminals in the range of 10–12 mm long. In the table below 10 mm is given, on the basis that lengths above 10 mm are simply excess material. The terminals not precisely clipped and often exceed the stated length by up to a millimetre (or more). From a “baker’s dozen” perspective this extra length could be deemed a safeguard, but for clearance purposes the extra length could be a defect. The terminal length only applies where terminals are present; the fixed and movable dummy models SF 5000 and SF 5001 have no terminals fitted at all.

Model SI 11L1 uses an unknown contact designation of “L”; here, this may simply indicate that the second terminal position is occupied by the lamp terminals, a characteristic not included in other designations. Likewise, the meaning of “SIX” series is not understood, as nothing about the one known type (SIX 5105) suggests that it differs in any way from a regular switch (SI 5105).

Known models

Model Series Branding Terminals Keystem Diode Force Reference
SF 1101 SF Clare 5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SF 1103 Pendar 5 mm Sloped Absent 130 gf Own collection
SF 1111 Pendar 5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SF 1501 Clare 5 mm Sloped Present 50 gf Own collection
SF 2101 Clare 10 mm? Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SF 2102 Clare 10 mm? Sloped Absent 80 gf Own collection
SF 2105 Pendar 10 mm? Sloped Absent Heavy Own collection
SF 5000 Clare None Sloped N/A Fixed Own collection
SF 5001 Clare None Sloped N/A 50 gf Own collection
SF 5101 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Flickr
SF 5102 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 80 gf Own collection
SF 5501 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Present 50 gf Own collection
SF 6011 Clare 3.5 mm Stepped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SF 6101 Clare 3.5 mm Stepped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SG 1101 SG Clare 5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SG 2101 Clare 10 mm? Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SG 5101 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SG 5103 Pendar 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 130 gf Own collection
SH 5101 SH Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SI 11L1 SI Clare 5 mm Sloped Absent 50 gf Own collection
SI 1502 Clare 5 mm Sloped Present 80 gf Own collection
SI 1503 Pendar 5 mm Sloped Present 130 gf Own collection
SI 2104 Pendar 10 mm? Sloped Absent 200 gf Own collection
SI 5104 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 200 gf Own collection
SK 1104 SK Pendar 5 mm Sloped Absent 200 gf Own collection
SK 5104 Clare 3.5 mm Sloped Absent 200 gf Deskthority
SIX 5105 SIX Pendar 3.5 mm Sloped Absent Heavy Own collection

See also