Richards makes separable connectors for two different jobs. 600/900 A deadbreak elbows are for heavily loaded circuits and are operated de-energized. The 15 kV 200 A loadbreak elbow is built for switching under load with a hot stick. Pick the family from the bushing on your equipment, then use the matching sizing guide for the rest. All values below come from Richards data sheets and installation instructions.

Deadbreak vs Loadbreak at a Glance

In both families, T means the elbow has a capacitive test point and N means it does not.

When to Choose 600/900 A Deadbreak

• The equipment has 600/900 A bushings.
• Richards says the bolted connection suits heavily loaded areas and circuits with high fault currents.
• You need a splice or multi-way arrangement (62LJT kits), or the 900 A copper version.

Sizing and part numbers are in our deadbreak elbow guide, cable adapter sizing guide and deadbreak accessories guide.

35 kV, 200 kV BIL Deadbreak Elbow

For 35 kV systems that need more impulse margin, Richards offers 63LCN-200 and 63LCT-200 (aluminum, 600 A) and 93LCN-200 and 93LCT-200 (copper, 900 A). It is a deadbreak T-body design, 100% EPDM, fully shielded, deadfront and submersible, for outdoor vaults, enclosures and direct-bury installations. It accepts IEEE 386 Interface 13.

The 900 A rating applies only when all components are copper. Otherwise the assembly is rated 600 A. Matching parts are the P635HIP-200 (aluminum) and P935HIP-200 (copper) insulating plugs, P635HIP-STUD and P935HIP-STUD studs, the P635CA-W cable adapter, and the P6AL-X, P6ALR-X, P7ALCU-X and P9CU-X lugs.

When to Choose 15 kV 200 A Loadbreak

• The equipment has 200 A, 15 kV loadbreak bushing inserts.
• The elbow will be switched under load with a hot stick.

Loadbreak Elbow Ratings (21LBN / 21LBT)

The elbow is fully shielded and deadfront, with a tin-plated copper probe with an ablative tip that quenches arcs during switching and a stainless steel bail molded into the back for hot stick operation. It has an optional capacitive test point. Richards designs it to IEEE 386 and IEEE 592 and runs partial discharge, AC withstand and impulse withstand on every unit.

Loadbreak Cable Adapter Sizes

Do not use the deadbreak adapter tables for a loadbreak elbow.

Loadbreak Bushing Insert (21LBI)

The 21LBI converts a 200 A bushing well interface (IEEE 386 Interface 3) to a 200 A loadbreak interface (IEEE 386 Interface 5). It works with loadbreak elbows, grounding elbows, insulating caps, surge arresters and other compatible accessories.

• Injection-molded EPDM, fully shielded and deadfront.
• Molded-in seating indicator confirms the mating part is seated.
• Semi-conductive cuff with a grounding eye for the bleeder wire.
• Rated 8.3/14.4 kV maximum, 11 kV corona level, 34 kV AC withstand (1 minute) and 95 kV BIL.
• 200 A continuous. Short-time rating is 10 kA for 10 cycles and 3.5 kA for 3 seconds.
• Stack height 6 3/8 in, overall length 7 3/8 in, diameter 2 7/8 in.

Loadbreak Lugs

The P2ALCU-X is a 200 A bi-metallic compression lug for aluminum or copper conductor. It has a 3/8-16 UNC-2B threaded hole where the probe fastens, and the oxide inhibitor compound is pre-applied. The P2CU-X is the 200 A copper compression lug. Both use the same code (X) for conductor size.

P2ALCU barrel dimensions as printed by Richards: codes 03 to 10 have a 0.63 in barrel OD, 1.94 in D and 2.95 in L. Codes 11 and 12 have a 0.78 in barrel OD, 1.68 in D and 2.75 in L.

P2CU dimensions as printed by Richards:

The P2CU has a 5/16 in (7.94 mm) hole and a 7/16 in (11.18 mm) pad thickness per the Richards drawing.

Related 15 kV Loadbreak Parts

• 21LBI: loadbreak bushing insert
• 2100EP: elbow probe
• 21LBICG: insulating cap
• 21LGN: grounding elbow
• 618BEF: bushing extender
• P615ETP: elbow tap plug

Installing the 21LBN/21LBT Loadbreak Elbow

These steps summarize Richards installation instructions RP-II-21LBNT. Follow the sheet packed with your kit. Richards says the kit may include the elbow, male contact probe, compression lug, installation wrench, silicone lubricant, instructions, mastic, copper braid and shrink tube. Check that the contents are correct, complete and undamaged, and thread the probe into the lug to check the threads. If you meet resistance before full assembly, check for damage and replace the damaged part.

1. Prep the shield. For shield wires, pull the cable 24 to 26 in past the bushing centerline, tape-mark the centerline, strip the outer jacket 7 3/4 to 8 in past the tape and slide the shrink tube on. Then unwrap the neutral wires and cut the cable square at the bushing centerline. For a flat metallic tape shield, cut the cable at the bushing centerline, strip the jacket beyond the tape, slide on the shrink tube and secure the tape shield with vinyl tape.
2. Seal the shield. For shield wires, abrade the jacket, apply 1 layer of mastic 1 in from the jacket edge, fold the wires back into the mastic and secure them with temporary PVC tape. For a tape shield, position the copper braid with the solder block 1 in from the jacket edge, wrap it around the shield, add a constant force spring and 2 layers of plastic tape, and tape it temporarily.
3. Strip the cable end. Remove the shield and insulation 2 1/8 in from the end. Cut square and do not nick the conductor.
4. Install the lug. Wire brush bare aluminum conductor and install the compression lug right away. Rotate it to spread the inhibitor. Align the contact threaded hole with the bushing bore, start the crimp at the crimp mark and rotate 180 degrees for each successive crimp. Wipe off excess inhibitor.
5. Cut back the insulation shield. Richards shows 6 7/8 in from the cable end, with a maximum 1/8 in bevel on the insulation. Clean off all conductive residue. Do not cut or nick the insulation.
6. Mount the elbow. Lubricate the cable insulation and the inside of the elbow with the supplied lubricant. Slide the elbow on with a back-and-forth twisting motion, wipe off excess grease and align the elbow with the lug's threaded hole.
7. Thread the probe. Thread it into the lug by hand without crossthreading. It should turn freely for about four turns before becoming snug. Tighten with the wrench until the wrench bends.
8. Re-cover the shield. Apply mastic over the shield wires, or lift the braid and apply mastic under and over the solder block. Slide the seal tube over the elbow and shrink it from the elbow toward the cable.
9. Ground the elbow. Run a No. 14 AWG copper wire or equivalent through the grounding eye and twist it tight without damaging the eye. Twist the neutral wires together and connect them to ground, leaving slack for operation.
10. Lubricate the mating parts. Lubricate the receptacle portion of the elbow and the mating bushing, but only if the transformer and elbow are known to be de-energized.

Operating Cautions from Richards

• Operate loadbreak connectors with an eight-foot, fully insulated hot stick type tool. Do not operate the elbow by hand.
• The elbow is not designed to locate faults. After closing in on a fault, the bushings and elbows must be replaced.
• Richards recommends operating the connectors de-energized if you have questions about proper operating position. Do not connect two different phases of a multiple phase system, and before closing a single phase loop, make sure both ends are the same phase.
• Loadmake: grasp the elbow firmly with the hot stick, position the probe tip in the bushing, insert slowly until you feel slight resistance, thrust the elbow the rest of the way on, push again and pull gently to make sure it is secure, then place an insulated protective cap with a ground wire on any exposed energized bushing.
• Loadbreak: use the hot stick to secure the standoff insulator or portable feedthru, attach ground devices, secure the elbow pulling eye, rotate the connector slightly to break the surface friction, withdraw the elbow with a quick motion, place it on a lubricated standoff or feedthru, and cap any energized bushing.

Test Point Warning (21LBT)

The capacitive test point is not directly connected to the conductor. Do not use conventional voltage measuring devices. Use a sensing device made for separable connectors with capacitive test points. Contamination, moisture or dirt around the test point, or the wrong measuring equipment, can give a false no-voltage reading, so treat the elbow as energized until no voltage is confirmed by other means. After testing, clean the cap, lubricate the inside with silicone grease and replace it.

Matching Parts for a 600/900 A Termination

1. Elbow: 62LCT1, 62LCT2 or 63LCT2, from the deadbreak elbow guide.
2. Cable adapter, sized by insulation diameter. See the cable adapter sizing guide.
3. Lug: compression, or range-taking shear bolt P6ALR1 to P6ALR6.
4. Accessories: plugs, bushing extenders, parking and grounding bushings, from the accessories guide.
5. Torque tools, from the Ripley separable connector tools guide.

Elbow, Cold Shrink Hammerhead or Joint Sleeve?

• A molded elbow is pre-sized and mates to a cable adapter and lug.
• The Richards CSH Series is a range-taking cold shrink housing for the same 600/900 A interface and covers a wider range of cable sizes.
• For an in-line connection, the JSCS sleeve combines the adapter, retaining ring, vent rod and jacket seal in one sleeve.
• For a pad connection, see the CL-2N two-hole copper NEMA lugs, #6 to 2000 MCM.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 200 A loadbreak elbow go on a 600 A bushing?

No. The interfaces are different. Match the elbow to the bushing on the equipment.

What do T and N mean in the part number?

T means the elbow has a capacitive test point and N means it does not. For example, 21LBT has a test point and 21LBN does not.

What makes a deadbreak elbow 600 A or 900 A?

The components. Aluminum is 600 A and copper is 900 A.

Can I use a deadbreak cable adapter on a loadbreak elbow?

No. The loadbreak elbow uses its own sizes, A to D, from the table above.

How do I connect a 200 A loadbreak elbow to a bushing well?

Install a 21LBI loadbreak bushing insert in the well (Interface 3), then mate the elbow to the insert (Interface 5).

What lug does the 200 A loadbreak elbow use?

The P2ALCU-X for aluminum or copper conductor, or the P2CU-X for copper conductor. Pick the code (X) from the table above. For example, a 1/0 AWG stranded conductor is code 09.

What is the difference between the 63LCT2 and the 63LCT-200?

The -200 elbow has a 200 kV BIL and 70 kV AC withstand. The IEEE 386 minimums for 35 kV are 150 kV BIL and 50 kV AC withstand. Use the -200 insulating plug with it.

Which tool installs the loadbreak probe?

The Ripley PIT 1T, at 125 in-lb. The LBIT-1T, at 180 in-lb, secures 200 A bushing inserts.

Need help choosing parts? Contact Powertech Associates with your voltage class, cable insulation diameter and conductor size and we will quote the right part numbers.

Last updated: November 2026.