Decide what belongs in the sale
We buy all types of electrical wire and cable, new, unused, leftover or used. Include full reels, partial reels, boxed coils, cut lengths and mixed lots. Send photos showing the material and its condition, and we will make an offer.
Before selling, check your original supplier's return terms and your next project's needs. An unopened product may be eligible for return under that supplier's policy. A usable leftover length may also belong in your own inventory. Do not sell job-required reserves just because they were not installed during the current phase.
Sort building wire, feeders, MC cable and solar cable using the wire and cable categories we buy. Keep surplus copper wire separate from aluminum and record whether each product is bare or insulated. We use the product's specification, along with its conductor metal, to review the lot.
Identify each product before combining reels
Give every reel, coil or box its own inventory ID. Put that ID beside the material for photos, without covering the factory label. Match the label to the markings on the wire itself. A reel can hold a different product if someone reused the packaging.
| Field to record | What to copy | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer and product number | Full name and catalog number from the tag | Recording only the distributor name |
| Wire type | Exact marking, such as THHN/THWN-2 or XHHW-2 | Calling every black conductor building wire |
| Conductor size | AWG or kcmil exactly as printed | Writing 1 AWG when the tag says 1/0 AWG |
| Conductor material | Copper or aluminum, as documented | Guessing from the outside diameter |
| Cable construction | Conductor count, shields and armor where identified | Combining single conductors with multiconductor cable |
| Other ratings | Voltage, listings and date or lot code | Adding a rating that is not on the product |
For an illustrative marking such as 12 AWG CU THHN/THWN-2 600 V, record the whole identification. Southwire's corresponding copper specification describes PVC insulation with a nylon sheath and a 600-volt rating. Do not assume a similar-looking wire carries those same ratings. See the THHN and THWN-2 identification details or the reel-tag reading guide when markings are unclear.
Record continuous footage, not just a total
List the length of each piece. Separate matching products by color and packaging, even if you later total them. Footage per piece and the number of matching reels affect the offer, whether you have long runs or short cut lengths.
Use original tags together with issue records, cut tickets or a verified measurement. A factory tag gives the original length, not necessarily what remains. If your number is an estimate, label it as an estimate and explain its basis. Do not unwind a heavy reel without suitable equipment just to answer a footage question. The remaining-footage guide covers ways to assess a partial reel.
Worked inventory example
This is a hypothetical contractor lot, not an actual purchase. Reel A originally held 900 feet of 1/0 AWG copper THHN/THWN-2. Issue records show 530 feet removed, leaving an estimated 370 feet, provided those records include every cut. Coil B is a separate measured 140-foot length of the same product and color.
| Inventory ID | Packaging | Available continuous length | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Partial reel | Estimated 370 feet | 900 feet minus 530 feet issued |
| B | Separate coil | Measured 140 feet | Recorded measurement |
| Combined lot | Two separate pieces | 510 feet total | Not one 510-foot run |
Keep the two lengths separate in your request. For similar feeders, the 1/0 through 4/0 wire page helps you check the size category.
Photograph the evidence a buyer needs
Take a set of photos that ties each inventory row to a specific product. A distant photo of several reels does not show which tag belongs to which length.
- Photograph the whole lot with inventory IDs visible.
- Take a straight-on, readable photo of each reel tag or box label.
- Photograph the full repeating print line, using overlapping shots if needed.
- Show the remaining wire and both reel flanges, or the complete coil and its packaging.
- Photograph accessible cable ends and any existing end seals without removing them.
- Show questionable areas close up, then take a wider view to locate them.
Check the photos on your phone before submitting them. Retake blurred tags or markings hidden by glare. Do not cut wire, strip insulation or remove seals to create a photo. If a field stays unreadable, say so in the inventory rather than guessing.
Add useful Arizona project context
For a project closeout, state the city, your company's role and why the unused material is available. Note a completed installation phase, changed design or canceled scope when that accurately describes your lot. The wire selling guides cover those situations in more detail.
Intel identifies new factories and modernization at its Ocotillo campus in Chandler. SRP's October 2024 announcement describes the Eleven Mile solar and battery project near Coolidge in Pinal County. For a manufacturing or energy-project closeout, include the manufacturer's catalog number and any project purchase reference. The project name alone does not identify the cable.
For a solar closeout, identify each product separately. Do not label every conductor from the site PV wire. Use the actual markings and the solar PV wire details to organize the lot.
Preserve condition and disclose storage history
Tell the buyer how the wire was stored, including exposure to Arizona sun or rain. Southwire's industrial cable guidance makes protection from sunlight and precipitation, along with avoiding handling damage, central to preserving cable performance. An unused reel is not automatically undamaged.
Inspect what you can see without disturbing the cable. Photograph cracked insulation, flattened sections, water exposure, broken flanges and missing end seals. These details affect the offer. Show any damaged sections clearly in your photos and note them in the inventory. Do not hide a damaged section inside a coil or change the length without updating your list.
Keep readable tags attached and retain protective packaging. Leave intact end seals in place, especially on medium-voltage cable. Record the manufacture date or lot code rather than assuming age alone proves the condition. Matching long lengths, identifiable products and sound packaging help the review; uncertain footage, unreadable markings and exposure concerns can lower an offer.
Confirm ownership and written terms
We confirm who is selling and keep simple paperwork with each purchase. Useful records include an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or a letter on company letterhead. For company material, identify the person authorized to sell it, such as the owner, project manager or purchasing contact. Include the name of the person releasing the material.
When reviewing a written offer, check that inventory IDs, product descriptions, individual lengths and disclosed condition match your records. Ask how any footage or condition difference found at pickup will be handled. A form request is not a binding offer.
Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup. If your company needs a company check or ACH, raise that requirement while reviewing the terms. The payment and ownership paperwork page explains what to prepare. At pickup, we check the material against the written terms.
Check the lot before requesting an offer
Use this final check to catch missing details:
- Every item has an ID tied to its photos and inventory row.
- Type, size, conductor material and readable ratings are recorded.
- Each continuous length is listed, with estimates clearly identified.
- Condition concerns and storage exposure are disclosed.
- Simple sale paperwork and the authorized seller's name are included.
- The city, access restrictions and person releasing the material are identified.
Send that inventory and photo set through Get an Offer for a written review of your surplus electrical wire and cable. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.