Richards deadbreak elbows terminate or splice medium-voltage power cable through 35 kV. The store numbers 62LCT1, 62LCT2 and 63LCT2 look similar, but each one ships with different parts, and none of them include the cable adapter or lug you need to finish a termination. This guide explains what each part number includes, how to read the full Richards elbow part number, and what to order with the elbow.
The Richards Deadbreak Elbow is a modular, fully shielded, deadfront connection for 600/900 A deadbreak interfaces. The housing is injection-molded EPDM. Assemblies use a high-torque bolted connection, which Richards says makes the elbow a good fit for heavily loaded areas and circuits with high fault currents.
Richards states that its testing exceeds the IEEE minimums. IEEE requires partial discharge plus either AC or impulse withstand, and Richards runs all three.
These are the industry minimum requirements Richards lists. Many Richards products are tested above them, so check the product data sheet for a specific part.
| Rating | 15 kV | 25 kV | 35 kV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum operating voltage (phase-to-ground) | 8.3 kV | 15.2 kV | 21.1 kV |
| Corona voltage level (partial discharge extinction) | 11 kV | 19 kV | 26 kV |
| AC withstand (1 minute) | 34 kV | 40 kV | 50 kV |
| Impulse withstand (BIL) | 95 kV | 125 kV | 150 kV |
| Conductor | Continuous Current | Short-Time Current |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 600 A | 25 kA, 10 cycles and 10 kA, 3 seconds |
| Copper | 900 A | 40 kA, 10 cycles and 10 kA, 3 seconds |
The first digit pair is the voltage class (62 is 15/25 kV, 63 is 35 kV). LC is the deadbreak elbow series, T means the elbow has a capacitive test point, and the last digit is the kit type.
| Part Number | Voltage Class | Test Point | Kit Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62LCT1 | 15/25 kV | Yes | Elbow housing and aluminum stud |
| 62LCT2 | 15/25 kV | Yes | Elbow housing, aluminum stud and insulating plug |
| 63LCT2 | 35 kV | Yes | Elbow housing, aluminum stud and insulating plug |
The only difference between 62LCT1 and 62LCT2 is the insulating plug. Pick the 2 kit when you need the plug with the elbow, and the 1 kit when you already have one. Kit type 0 is the elbow housing alone.
Richards also makes the same elbows without a test point (N instead of T, for example 62LCN1) and with copper components for 900 A (92LCN1, 92LCT1, 93LCN1, 93LCT1).
The full part number is built from these fields, in order. Richards' sample is 6-2-LC-N-2-LM-23-D-D.
| Field | Sample | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Current rating | 6 | 6 = 600 A (aluminum insulating plug and stud, Al/Cu rated lug); 7 = 600 A (copper insulating plug and stud, Al/Cu rated copper-top lug); 9 = 900 A (copper insulating plug and stud, Cu rated compression lug or Al/Cu rated shear bolt lug) |
| Voltage class | 2 | 2 = 15/25 kV; 3 = 35 kV |
| Product series | LC | Deadbreak elbow |
| Test point | N | N = none; T = with capacitive test point |
| Kit type | 2 | 0 = elbow housing only; 1 = housing and stud; 2 = housing, stud and insulating plug |
| Cable adapter size (W) | LM | Chosen from the cable insulation diameter. Leave blank for no cable adapter or lug |
| Lug code (X) | 23 | Chosen from the conductor size and type. Leave blank for no lug |
| Shield adapter | D | From the jacket seal and shield adapter suffix table. Leave blank if not needed |
| Jacket seal | D | From the same suffix table |
Richards' sample, 6-2-LC-N-2-LM-23-D-D, is a 15/25 kV, 600 A deadbreak elbow kit without a test point. It includes the elbow, stud, insulating plug, a size LM cable adapter, an aluminum compression lug for 750 kcmil stranded or compressed conductor, and a PCRK12-3 jacket seal and shield adapter kit.
A bare 62LCT1, 62LCT2 or 63LCT2 is only the elbow. To terminate a cable you also need these parts, which can be ordered separately or built into a full kit:
| Lug | Rated For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| P6AL-X aluminum compression | Aluminum and copper conductor | Tin-plated. Requires crimp tool and die |
| P6ALR1 to P6ALR6 aluminum shear bolt, range-taking | Aluminum and copper conductor | Tin-plated. Accepts a range of conductor sizes. Uses metric hex keys. Aluminum only |
| P7ALCU-X copper-top compression | Aluminum and copper conductor | Aluminum barrel with copper spade, for an all-copper connection at the bushing interface. Requires crimp tool and die |
| P9CU-X copper compression | Copper conductor only | For 900 A assemblies. Requires crimp tool and die |
For compression lugs, pick the lug code (X) from Richards' Table X by conductor size. For range-taking shear bolt lugs, use the R code. Richards lists these nominal ranges:
| Lug | Code | Minimum | Maximum | Hex Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P6ALR1 | R1 | #3 AWG | 300 kcmil | 5 mm |
| P6ALR2 | R2 | 1/0 AWG | 500 kcmil compact | 6 mm |
| P6ALR3 | R3 | 3/0 AWG | 600 kcmil | 8 mm |
| P6ALR4 | R4 | 350 kcmil | 750 kcmil | 8 mm |
| P6ALR5 | R5 | 600 kcmil | 1250 kcmil | 8 mm |
| P6ALR6 | R6 | 1250 kcmil | 1600 kcmil | 8 mm |
Richards notes that 600 A deadbreak elbows are available starting at lug size 6 (#3 AWG stranded). For P6ALR6 on anything other than a 35 kV LC elbow, contact the factory. Our online store carries all six range-taking lugs, P6ALR1 through P6ALR6, linked in the table above.
For splicing, Richards sells elbow splice kits that bundle elbows, insulating plugs, connecting plugs and studs. They ship with aluminum components, so change the 6 to a 9 to order copper. They do not include cable adapters or lugs.
| Elbows in Kit | 15/25 kV | 35 kV | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 elbow | 62LJT1 / 62LJN1 | 63LJT1 / 63LJN1 | 1 elbow, 2 insulating plugs and 1 stud |
| 2 elbows | 62LJT2 / 62LJN2 | 63LJT2 / 63LJN2 | 2 elbows, 2 insulating plugs, 1 connecting plug and 2 studs |
| 3 elbows | 62LJT3 / 62LJN3 | 63LJT3 / 63LJN3 | 3 elbows, 2 insulating plugs, 2 connecting plugs and 3 studs |
| 4 elbows | 62LJT4 / 62LJN4 | 63LJT4 / 63LJN4 | 4 elbows, 2 insulating plugs, 3 connecting plugs and 4 studs |
In the T kits, one elbow has a test point and the rest do not. In the N kits, none of the elbows has a test point.
Both terminate a cable on a 600/900 A deadbreak interface. The elbow is a molded, pre-sized housing that mates to a cable adapter and lug. The CSH is a range-taking cold shrink housing that covers a wider range of cable sizes. See our Richards CSH Series guide for sizing tables and part numbers.
The 62LCT2 includes an insulating plug and the 62LCT1 does not. Both include the elbow housing with a test point and an aluminum stud.
T means the elbow has a capacitive test point. N means no test point.
No. Cable adapters and lugs are ordered separately or as part of a full kit number. Leave the W and X fields blank if you do not want them in the kit.
62 is for 15/25 kV systems and 63 is for 35 kV systems.
The components. Aluminum components are rated 600 A and copper components are rated 900 A.
Compression lugs require the proper crimp tool and die. Range-taking shear bolt lugs use metric hex keys. Follow the installation instructions packed with the kit.
Need help building a deadbreak elbow kit part number? Contact Powertech Associates with your cable insulation diameter, conductor size and voltage class and we will build it for you. The 62LCT1, 62LCT2 and 63LCT2 are available in our online store.
Last updated: November 2026.
