Connectors & Pole Line Hardware
Utility compression connectors and lugs are the small parts that decide whether a joint runs cool for decades. Ryan Sales offers Richards MFG aluminum and copper compression products, split tinned connectors, hot-line clamps, pole line hardware and wildlife protectors for secondary and overhead distribution work. Our reps support utilities, co-ops and contractors across Texas and Oklahoma.
Send the voltage, ampacity and fault duty. A rep will narrow it down.
Richards MFGAluminum Compression ConnectorsAluminum compression splices, tees and reducers in standard, tapered and common die variants.- Material
- Aluminum
- Connection type
- Compression
- Configuration
- Straight / tapered / common die
Richards MFGAluminum Compression LugsComplete range of aluminum compression lugs including short-barrel, NEMA one- to four-hole, tapered and pin terminal styles.- Material
- Aluminum
- Configuration
- One- to four-hole; NEMA hole patterns; common die options
- Connection type
- Compression
Richards MFGCopper Compression ConnectorsCopper compression splices, tees, reducers and oil-stop variants for power distribution conductors.- Material
- Copper
- Connection type
- Compression
- Configuration
- Straight / tapered / oil-stop
Richards MFGCopper Compression LugsTwelve series of copper compression lugs from short-barrel and NEMA multi-hole to heavy-duty, mechanical and pin terminal styles.- Material
- Copper
- Connection type
- Compression / mechanical
- Configuration
- NEMA hole patterns; heavy-duty and inspection-window variants
Richards MFGDistribution EquipmentOverhead distribution clamps and connectors including hot-line clamps, vise connectors, stirrups and bolted wedge connectors.- Material
- Bronze / aluminum
- Application
- Live-line rated hot-line clamps; grounding and service-drop hardware
- Styles
- Hot-line clamps / vise connectors / parallel clamps / stirrups / service drop and mid-span connectors / neutral dead ends / ground clamps / bolted wedge connectors
Richards MFGPole Line HardwarePole line mounting hardware from eyelets and J-hooks to gains, guy hooks, turnbuckles and messenger clamps.- Material
- Galvanized steel
- Mounting
- Utility pole
- Styles
- Eyelets / J-hooks / equipment brackets / gains / pole-eye plates / guy hooks / aerial clamps / turnbuckles / pole-top extensions / messenger clamps
Richards MFGRubber ProductsCable end caps, insulated connector covers and wildlife protectors for distribution equipment.- Material
- EPDM/rubber and plastic
- Styles
- Cable end caps / insulated connector covers / wildlife protectors
- Application
- Cable end sealing; wildlife outage mitigation
Richards MFGSplit Tinned ConnectorsThe original Richards product line: split tinned copper connectors for underground secondary splicing.- Material
- Tinned copper
- Connection type
- Split design, solder or crimp
- Configuration
- Straight / reducing / branch / tee
How to choose connectors & pole line hardware
Conductor material
Match the connector material to the conductor first. Aluminum conductors take aluminum connectors such as Aluminum Compression Lugs and Aluminum Compression Connectors, and copper conductors take copper, such as Copper Compression Lugs. Joining aluminum to copper needs a connector rated for that pairing, because dissimilar metals in contact corrode in the presence of moisture.
Lug or splice, and which style
Decide whether you are terminating on equipment or joining conductors. Lugs terminate a conductor on a transformer, switchgear or bus, so check the tongue's hole count and NEMA hole spacing against the pad. Splices, tees and reducers join or tap conductors; tapered versions reduce between sizes, and copper oil-stop versions block oil migration in oil-filled cable systems, as on the Copper Compression Connectors.
| Product line | Material | Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Compression Lugs | Aluminum | Short-barrel, NEMA one- to four-hole, tapered, pin terminal |
| Copper Compression Lugs | Copper | Short-barrel, NEMA multi-hole, heavy-duty, mechanical, pin terminal |
| Aluminum Compression Connectors | Aluminum | Splice, tee, reducer; standard, tapered, common die |
| Copper Compression Connectors | Copper | Splice, tee, reducer; standard, tapered, oil-stop |
Compression, mechanical or split tinned
Choose the connection method based on crew tooling and the installation. Compression connectors give a consistent joint when crimped with the correct die, and common die variants reduce the number of dies a crew carries. Mechanical lugs install without a press. For underground secondary network splicing, Split Tinned Connectors use a split tinned copper body that can be soldered or crimped.
Overhead connections and live-line work
For overhead lines, the connector has to suit how it goes on. Distribution Equipment covers live-line rated hot-line clamps, vise connectors, stirrups and bolted wedge connectors in bronze and aluminum, plus grounding and service-drop hardware. Stirrups paired with hot-line clamps keep repeated taps from damaging the main conductor.
Hardware and wildlife protection
Round out the pole with mounting and protection. Pole Line Hardware covers galvanized eyelets, J-hooks, gains, guy hooks, turnbuckles and messenger clamps. Rubber Products add cable end caps, insulated connector covers and wildlife protectors for bushings and arresters.
See our cable splices and terminations for the medium voltage joints that pair with these connectors.
Frequently asked questions
Copper vs aluminum compression lugs?
Match the lug to the conductor: use aluminum lugs on aluminum conductor and copper lugs on copper conductor. Many aluminum lugs are tin-plated and dual rated, so they can also be used on copper. Do not put bare copper lugs on aluminum conductor, because galvanic corrosion and differences in thermal expansion loosen the joint. Aluminum lugs have larger barrels to carry the same current. Richards MFG makes both aluminum and copper compression lugs.
NEMA 2-hole lug sizing?
Size a NEMA 2-hole lug first by conductor, then by bolt pattern. Choose the barrel for the conductor size, material and stranding. Then match the hole diameter and center spacing to the bus bar or terminal pad, since NEMA sets standard spacings for this. Use a die and tool matched to the lug, and pick a longer barrel where more compressions are needed. Richards MFG copper and aluminum compression lugs come in NEMA hole patterns.