Sell 8 AWG to 1 AWG Wire in Arizona

Building wire, feeders and grounding wire

This range includes wire left after equipment connections, feeder pulls and grounding work. We buy new, unused, leftover or used wire in full reels, partial reels, boxed coils and cut lengths. A reel of 6 AWG copper and a reel of 4 AWG aluminum both belong in this size range, but they need separate descriptions.

Send photos of the wire and we will make an offer. We confirm who is selling and keep simple paperwork, such as an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or company letter, plus the name of the person releasing the material.

For an inventory spanning several gauges, use the wire sizes we buy guide to group the lot before sending photos.

Size chart for 8 AWG through 1 AWG

The chart covers common building-wire sizes in this range. Circular mils describe conductor cross-sectional area, not the outside diameter over insulation. Typical uses below are examples, not instructions for choosing a conductor or breaker.

If your tag says 7 AWG or 5 AWG, report that exact size rather than rounding to a chart row. Smaller material belongs with 14, 12 and 10 AWG wire. The next larger group is 1/0 through 4/0 wire, not another name for 1 AWG.

Approximate conductor weight per foot

These estimates are for the bare conductor in Class B stranded wire. They exclude insulation, cable jackets, armor, packaging and the reel itself. Actual construction and manufacturing tolerances affect weight.

The calculation starts with about 3.03 pounds of solid copper per 1,000 feet per kcmil, adds about 2 percent for Class B stranding, then uses about 0.30 times copper weight for aluminum. These rounded estimates do not establish which aluminum sizes a manufacturer stocks.

For example, 1,000 feet of 2 AWG stranded conductor contains approximately 205 pounds of copper or 61.5 pounds of aluminum before insulation. See the copper and aluminum weight chart for other sizes. Do not turn a loaded reel's gross weight into footage without accounting for the complete cable and empty reel.

Read the size and type on the print line

Look for the number followed by AWG. A marking containing 2 AWG CU THHN/THWN-2 600V identifies 2 AWG copper with those insulation ratings. A marking containing 4 AWG AL XHHW-2 identifies 4 AWG aluminum with an XHHW-2 rating. These are examples of fields to locate, not complete manufacturer print lines.

AWG means American Wire Gauge. Within numbered AWG sizes, a smaller number means a larger conductor. After 1 AWG, the sequence continues with 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0. Do not omit the slash when transcribing an aught size.

kcmil means thousands of circular mils. MCM is the older notation for the same unit. They commonly label conductors larger than 4/0. For comparison, 2 AWG has an area of 66.36 kcmil, but its usual product marking remains 2 AWG.

On multiconductor cable, record both the conductor size and conductor count. The outside cable diameter is not the gauge of each wire inside.

Copper, aluminum and insulation are separate details

When selling THHN and THWN-2 building wire, photograph both ratings if both appear. THHN has PVC insulation with a nylon sheath. THWN-2 is rated for wet or dry locations up to 90°C, subject to installation limits. Do not assume a wet-location rating from appearance alone.

XHHW-2 wire uses cross-linked polyethylene insulation. Southwire's aluminum product uses an 8000-series alloy conductor. The tag and print line should identify the actual product; black insulation alone does not tell us the metal or listing.

bare copper grounding wire needs its reel tag because it has no insulation print line. Note solid versus stranded construction. Keep insulated wire, bare copper and multiconductor cable on separate inventory lines, even when their AWG sizes match.

Continuous footage matters more than a size alone

There is no universal minimum quantity or cut length. Send the continuous footage per reel or piece so we can review it. We buy both long runs and short pieces. Record each piece's length so we can review the footage in your lot.

Full reels generally have an advantage over short cut lengths. Matching sizes, types and colors also help describe the lot. For feeder leftovers, list each color's length separately rather than giving only combined footage.

A larger conductor does not automatically produce a stronger offer. Demand depends on the wire type, conductor metal and current need for that product. Readable tags, brand, manufacture date, sound packaging and documented footage matter alongside size. Sun exposure, water and jacket damage also affect the offer.

Arizona solar closeouts need exact product names

SRP's October 2024 Eleven Mile Solar System announcement describes a solar and battery installation near Coolidge in Pinal County. Work of that kind can involve different wire families. A contractor's unused equipment-supply wire should not be grouped under a vague label such as “solar cable.”

Keep PV-labeled solar wire separate from THHN, XHHW-2 and grounding wire. If the lot also includes MC cable, record its assembly label and conductor count. A project name identifies the source of your inventory, not its electrical rating.

Photos that make a mixed-size lot clear

Send a close photo of the reel tag and a readable section of print from each different product. Include the whole reel, its flanges and the exposed end without removing insulation. For cut lengths, show how the pieces are grouped and identify the length of each piece.

Add a simple inventory with size, copper or aluminum, type, color, continuous footage and Arizona location. Mark footage as estimated if you have not measured it. Include photos of any damage rather than leaving it out, and keep purchase or job-closeout paperwork handy for our simple seller confirmation.

Use Get an Offer to submit those details for a written offer. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.