Choose a guide for the material in front of you
A sealed reel, an open coil and an unmarked cut length need different checks. Start with the question you cannot answer about your lot. The guides below are grouped by identification, quantity, condition and release paperwork.
| What you have or need to resolve | Topic | Useful starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Building wire marked THHN/THWN-2, or a cable label you cannot decode | Identification | Read the reel tag and jacket print together. |
| An opened reel of unused wire or loose unused lengths | Packaging and length | Check what matters for partial reels and cut lengths. |
| A tag showing original footage, but no record of what remains | Quantity | Use the guide to estimating remaining reel footage. |
| Unused material with uncertain storage history | Condition | Review what makes a reel resellable. |
| A mixed lot that is difficult to show in one picture | Documentation | Follow the wire photography guide. |
| Company-owned cable awaiting project release | Ownership | Read how we verify wire ownership. |
Read the label before naming the wire
Record the manufacturer, product type, conductor size, conductor metal and voltage rating. Include the part number and date information when present. Keep every designation in a dual or multiple rating, not just the abbreviation you recognize.
For example, Southwire's SPEC10000 describes copper THHN/THWN-2 with PVC insulation, a nylon sheath and a 600-volt rating. That is a product example, not a description of every smooth insulated wire. Aluminum markings such as AL or ALUMINUM identify a different conductor material. Do not substitute a guess based on jacket color.
Keep original packaging labels with their material. UL's application guide explains that UL letters printed on the wire alone are supplemental markings, not proof of UL coverage. Photograph the complete mark on the original tag, reel or package as well as the print line.
Keep continuous lengths separate
A partial reel can contain useful surplus wire without being full. What matters is the length available for a future installation. An original tag does not tell us how much remains after a pull.
Give each reel or coil a simple inventory ID. Record its type, size, color, footage and whether that footage is measured, taken from records or estimated. If you have separate cut lengths, list them separately. Do not add them together and describe the result as a single continuous length.
Keep matching reels grouped on the inventory list, but do not combine different metals or product ratings under one line. Copper and aluminum wire of the same size are different products.
Check condition without altering the material
We buy new and unused reels, partial reels, boxed coils and cut lengths that are still long enough to install. We do not buy wire pulled out of service, burned, damaged or chopped into short pieces.
Show damaged reel flanges, exposed ends, water exposure and unreadable labels in your photos. For medium voltage cable, include end seals and any available test records. Do not cut open a sealed end merely to show the conductor.
Our guide to storing wire in Arizona heat and sun addresses storage concerns before a sale. Preserve labels and packaging, and report outdoor exposure instead of assuming an unused reel is unchanged. Sunlight resistance is product-specific. Southwire's cited THHN/THWN-2 specification lists that feature for 8 AWG and larger, not every size.
Understand what changes the offer
Conductor metal is only part of the review. Type and listing, size, footage per reel, matching quantities, brand, manufacture date and condition all matter. Full reels generally compare more favorably than short cut lengths because continuous footage matters for installation.
The guide to surplus wire value explains these factors without treating different cable products as interchangeable. There is no universal minimum quantity. Send the type, size, footage, packaging and Arizona location so we can review your lot.
Separate material from different Arizona project scopes
Arizona solar work can involve several cable families at one site. SRP's 2024 announcement for the Eleven Mile Solar System near Coolidge describes both solar generation and battery storage. A project name alone does not identify whether your leftover reel is PV wire, a feeder, control cable or another product.
Sort by actual tag information, not simply by the job name. Keep owner-supplied material separate from contractor-purchased inventory until you confirm who can release it.
Resolve missing information before releasing the lot
Keep invoices, purchase orders or job closeout paperwork tied to the inventory IDs. Company-owned material needs someone authorized to sell it, plus the name and ID of the person releasing it. If a tag is missing or footage is uncertain, say so rather than filling the gap with an assumption.
For a complete preparation checklist, read how to sell surplus wire in Arizona. Once your lot is documented, send its photos and inventory through Get an Offer. Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup.