Start with a photo-to-detail shot list
The useful photos answer four questions: What is it? How much remains? What condition is it in? Which reel do those details describe? Use this chart for each different product in your surplus electrical wire and cable lot.
| Photo | Include in the frame | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole lot | Every reel, coil and box being offered | Number of packages and how the lot is grouped |
| Whole reel | Both visible flange edges, winding and your reel ID | Packaging condition and apparent fill level |
| Original tag | Entire label, then a closer view if needed | Manufacturer, product details and original quantity |
| Print line | One complete readable sequence | Type, size and ratings actually printed on the wire |
| Length evidence | Footage marks or inventory record | Basis for remaining-footage information |
| End and condition | Accessible end cap, jacket and any problem area | Whether protection is intact and damage is visible |
This checklist works for new or used wire in full reels, partial reels, boxed coils, cut lengths and mixed lots. For other preparation questions, see the wire selling guides.
Step 1: Give every reel an ID
Before taking close-ups, label the packages A, B, C or use your existing inventory numbers. Put the ID on a separate card beside the package. Do not cover or replace the manufacturer's label.
Take the overview first, then photograph A's tag, print and condition before moving to B. Name the files consistently, such as A-tag and A-print. A close-up without a matching reel view can leave the buyer unsure which package it describes.
Photograph material where it is safely accessible. Do not climb a stack, tip a heavy reel or reach beneath it for a hidden label. Note what you cannot safely show.
Step 2: Make the tag readable edge to edge
Wipe the phone lens clean and hold it parallel to the label. Tap the text to focus, then check the saved image by enlarging it. If the letters blur, move back slightly instead of pushing the lens against the tag. Use even light and change your angle if glare hides the text.
Include the brand, stock or catalog number, conductor size, material, cable description, tagged footage and manufacturing date where present. Southwire also lists gross, tare and net weights on its reel tags. Other manufacturers' layouts differ.
A tag's original footage is not automatically the footage left on a partial reel. Photograph the original label even when your remaining-length note differs.
Keep the original package listing label visible too. UL Solutions explains that the complete Listing Mark for wire and cable is on the reel tag or smallest unit container; letters printed on the wire are supplemental. Our reel tag and print-line guide explains how to separate product details from packaging information.
Step 3: Capture the complete print sequence
On accessible wire, photograph enough length to capture the whole repeating legend. If it will not fit legibly in one frame, take overlapping close-ups. Show the same words twice at the overlap so the sequence stays clear.
Use the actual print, not insulation color or apparent thickness, to identify the product. Preserve slashes and suffixes when typing details. A size marked 4/0 is not 4 AWG, and 500 kcmil is a conductor size, not a footage figure.
| Material | Give these details extra attention |
|---|---|
| THHN and THWN-2 wire | Full type designation, AWG or kcmil size, conductor material and color |
| MC cable | Package description, conductor size and count, and any visible armor identification markings |
| Solar PV wire | PV designation, printed voltage rating, size and manufacturer |
| Medium voltage cable | Full tag description, kV rating, size, insulation and shield descriptions, and accessible end seals |
For large feeders, capture the entire size marking. The 250 to 500 kcmil wire page covers that size group. Do not strip insulation, cut open armor or remove a sealed end to show the conductor.
Step 4: Show footage without overstating it
State footage per reel or continuous cut length, not just a combined total. Mark each figure as original tagged length, measured remaining length or estimated remaining length.
Photograph sequential markings where accessible, but confirm how that product's numbering works. Cerrowire's True Sequential Footage system starts at zero at the bottom of its original Master Reel and ends at the finished length outside. That specific system can indicate remaining footage at the accessible end. Do not assume every cable uses the same convention, especially after transfer to another reel.
Worked example: two accessible end readings
Suppose one unused, continuous cut length has footage readings of 860 FT and 1240 FT at its ends. If you have confirmed that the markings increase one foot per foot along that same length, the difference is 380 feet.
| Inventory field | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Package ID | A |
| Length evidence | Photos A-end-860 and A-end-1240 |
| Remaining footage | Approximately 380 ft, based on end-mark difference |
| Packaging | One unused continuous length on a partial reel |
This is an example, not a quantity requirement. Do not unwind a heavy reel or disturb seals to reach a hidden end. If the length is uncertain, say so and use the remaining-footage guide to choose a suitable method. A fill-level photo supports an estimate; it does not prove exact footage.
Step 5: Photograph condition, not just good surfaces
Show cracked flanges, loose winding, wet packaging, faded labels and visible jacket damage. For a problem area, take one close-up and one wider photo showing where it sits. Do not conceal a defect with tape or reposition it out of sight.
Southwire's storage guidance calls for retaining product labels and protecting insulated cable ends against moisture. Photograph accessible end caps in place, particularly on medium voltage cable. Photos cannot prove electrical performance or rule out hidden moisture damage. Include existing test records if available rather than claiming the cable is tested without documentation.
We buy all types of electrical wire and cable, new, unused, leftover or used. Condition and footage affect the offer. Send honest photos of the whole lot, and we will make an offer.
Account for Arizona project and storage conditions
Keep outdoor exposure details beside the photos: covered or uncovered storage, known wetting and visible sun fading. In bright Arizona sunlight, shade the tag or change camera position rather than relying on a washed-out flash photo. Southwire recommends indoor storage for building wire to reduce sunlight-related color fading.
Solar and battery materials need separate identification. SRP's Eleven Mile Solar System near Coolidge combines solar generation and battery storage. For your own Arizona solar or storage closeout, separate PV wire from other feeders before photographing the lot. A project description alone cannot identify a reel's cable type or rating.
Check the packet before sending
- Every package in the overview has an ID and corresponding details.
- Tag and print photos are readable when enlarged.
- Footage is stated separately for each reel or continuous length.
- Unknown details and inaccessible surfaces are identified honestly.
- Condition notes match the photos, including storage exposure.
- The message gives your Arizona city and whether the wire is new, unused, leftover or used.
- Include the seller's name and the name of the person releasing company material.
We confirm who is selling and keep simple paperwork with each purchase, such as an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or company letter. The payment and paperwork page explains what to prepare.
Send the organized photos through Get an Offer for review and a written offer. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.