WHAT SURPLUS WIRE AND CABLE WE BUY
Thirteen categories cover almost everything we purchase, from a partial reel of #12 THHN to a 15kV concentric-neutral reel that never left the yard. If your material is conductor, insulation and jacket, it belongs on this page.
Surplus spools and reels are reviewed on construction, size, footage and condition.
We buy electrical wire and cable — nothing else. That focus is deliberate: it means we can price a reel accurately, tell you quickly whether a construction is placeable, and avoid the guesswork that comes with a general surplus buyer looking at a mixed load.
The list below is what we actually purchase, not a wish list. Every category links to a page explaining the constructions, the details that decide value and the photos that answer the questions before we ask them.
THHN, THWN & THWN-2
Building wire in copper and aluminum, #14 through 1000 MCM, full or partial reels.
Building wire02XHHW & XHHW-2
Cross-linked polyethylene building and feeder wire, wet or dry location rated.
XHHW wire03MC & AC armored cable
Metal-clad and armored cable in 2 to 4 conductor constructions with ground.
Armored cable04Tray cable, TC & PLTC
600V tray cable, 2kV TC and 300V power-limited tray cable for control runs.
Tray cable05VFD cable
Shielded drive-to-motor cable, 1kV and 2kV, with symmetric grounds.
VFD cable06Control & instrumentation
Multiconductor control, shielded pairs, thermocouple and RTD cable.
Control cable07SER & SEU service cable
Round SER and flat SEU service-entrance cable in aluminum or copper.
Service cable08URD & USE-2
Direct-burial underground distribution and service-entrance cable.
Underground cable09Bare copper & grounding
Bare and tinned copper conductor, grounding wire and bonding jumpers.
Grounding wire10Aluminum wire & cable
AA-8000 aluminum building wire, feeder, SER and URD constructions.
Aluminum cable11Welding cable & SOOW
Fine-strand welding cable and oil-resistant portable cord in cartons or coils.
Welding and SOOW12Communication & low voltage
Cat5e to Cat6A, coax, fire alarm, security and low-voltage control cable.
Low-voltage cable13Medium & high voltage
5kV, 8kV, 15kV, 25kV, 35kV and 69kV+ cable in EPR, XLPE, CN and shielded constructions.
5kV to 69kVSizes and formats we review
Size is only one axis. The same footage of the same size can be a straightforward purchase or a pass, depending on insulation, voltage rating, stranding and how the reel was stored. The range we see most often runs from #14 branch-circuit conductor to 1000 MCM feeder and 69kV cable.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Common conductor sizes | #14, #12, #10, #8, #6, #4, #2, #1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 750, 1000 MCM |
| Voltage classes | 300V low voltage, 600V building and industrial, 1kV and 2kV drive cable, 5kV to 69kV medium and high voltage |
| Insulation types | PVC/nylon, XHHW/XHHW-2 cross-linked polyethylene, EPR, XLPE, silicone and specialty jackets |
| Conductor materials | Annealed copper, tinned copper, AA-8000 aluminum, copper-clad and bare copper |
| Packaging | Full reels, partial reels, wooden reels, metal reels, spools, coils, cartons, unused cut lengths and palletised warehouse stock |
| Condition | New surplus, unused, overstock, cancelled-project inventory, discontinued stock, partial reel, and used material that is still identifiable |
What decides whether we buy a reel
Every submission gets the same four questions, whether it is a single spool or a trailer load.
What is it?
Construction, size, voltage and conductor count, read from the jacket print or the tag. Unidentified cable is the most common reason a lot is passed.
How much is left?
A measured length or a legible factory tag. An estimate is workable if it is honest; an invented number is not.
What condition is it in?
Dry and indoor-stored is best. Sun-bleached, abraded, wet or mud-covered reels can still be reviewed, but the usable length changes.
Can it be moved?
Reel weight, dock or forklift access, and whether a truck can reach the material. This decides pickup versus shipping.
What we do not buy
We buy wire and cable only. We do not purchase transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers, MCCs, bus plugs, generators, chillers, machinery, vehicles, lighting fixtures, conduit, strut, panels or general electrical equipment. If you have a mixed load that includes wire and equipment, we will review the wire portion and say so clearly.
One reel or one warehouse
We review single reels from a contractor closing out a job and full warehouse clearances from distributors. What changes is the logistics and the paperwork, not the standard: the material has to be identifiable, movable and genuinely surplus.
Send photos, not guesswork
A submission with a clear jacket close-up and reel face usually gets a firm answer the same day. A submission that says “misc wire, make offer” needs a conversation first. Photograph the tag, the print, the cut end and the reel, include the city and ZIP, and we will take it from there.
Where we buy
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy wire in metric sizes or non-US constructions?
Sometimes. Metric and imported constructions are reviewed if the jacket markings are legible and the listing is recognizable. They are harder to place with US contractors, so expect a different conversation than for a standard THHN or XHHW reel.
Do you buy mixed pallets of different wire types?
Yes. Mixed pallets from a job closeout or a shop clearance are common. We review them item by item and can quote the whole lot or only the pieces we want, whichever you prefer.
Do you buy new cable still in factory packaging?
Yes, and it is the easiest material to place. Sealed cartons, original pallets and factory-tagged reels with legible labels move fastest because the specification is not in question.
Do you buy cable that has been in service?
Occasionally, when it came out without damage, is dry and still carries legible markings. Describe it as used. Cable that has been weather-beaten, soaked or cut into lengths is usually a pass.
Do you charge to review a submission?
No. Reviewing photos and details is free and carries no obligation. If the material works for us we make an offer; if it does not, we tell you why.
Send the details.
We’ll review the reel.
Tell us what you have and where it sits. Photos of the reel, the jacket legend and the tag do more than a paragraph of description.
+1 (614) 715-3047 saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com- Serving
- Washington, DC and Maryland
- Response
- Most quote requests are reviewed within one business day.
- What to include
- Reel photos, markings, size, footage, condition and loading access.
- This page
- /wire-types/