confused on W die for 500MCM compact AL

[electrofelon]

I have this crimper (many other companies make/sell the same/similar thing):

Lineman's Crimper w/ Fixed BG

www.milwaukeetool.com

I have the 840 W die with which I can crimp the blackburn "common die" lugs which go from #6 thru 350. With the fixed D and a w style O die I can do all Blackburn "WR" H taps in #6 thru 250. My local supply house stocks both of those connector series.

The only thing I feel I am missing, and have a need for coming up actually, is to be able to crimp lugs on 500 compact AL. It seems there must be a way to do this but I am confused. If you go here:

Burndy U and W Dies – Burndy Die Chart

BURNDY dies are in stock and ready to ship from Specialized Products Company - as well as crimp tools, lugs and hydraulic cutters.

www.specialized.net

and scroll down to "Burndy W-dies for copper connectors" there is an "RT" series and a "VT" series. What is the difference? For the VT series, there is an asterisk next to the W34VT which seems to say it is limited to certain tools - I dont understand that. IF it is a W style seems like it should fit, or are they just thinking certain W style tools do not provide the force needed? Thanks.

 

[ppsh]

VT gives a square style crimp, less handle force.
RT is a round style crimp.
Both are for copper only.

The dies will fit, typically after 250cu in W style dies you need to go to a hydraulic or ratcheting crimper to generate enough force to crimp it.
Anything 300mcm+ aluminum is going to be a hydraulic crimper for the most part. The Penn-Union TDM-500 is the only mechanical crimper I know of that will do a 500mcm aluminum splice.

 

[electrofelon]

VT gives a square style crimp, less handle force.
RT is a round style crimp.
Both are for copper only.

The dies will fit, typically after 250cu in W style dies you need to go to a hydraulic or ratcheting crimper to generate enough force to crimp it.
Anything 300mcm+ aluminum is going to be a hydraulic crimper for the most part. The Penn-Union TDM-500 is the only mechanical crimper I know of that will do a 500mcm aluminum splice.

Thanks for the info. Regarding the copper, I thought that was referring to the lug being made of copper, not that it is only for copper conductors, but upon doing some more digging, I see you are correct. They do make YA-A series for AL conductors, but those seem to take U dies. Maybe I am SOL on this one. I am skeptical that it is not physically possible and reasonable, since I can do an H tap with two 250's.