Medium-voltage reels we buy
Medium-voltage cable carries power between equipment such as switchgear, transformers and large facility loads. Solar projects also use it for collection circuits after the inverter output is stepped up.
We buy unused shielded MV-90 and MV-105 cable with copper or aluminum conductors, rated from 5 kV through 35 kV. Full reels, partial reels and continuous cut lengths can qualify if they remain suitable for installation. Include single-conductor cable or multi-conductor assemblies in your inventory, with the construction identified separately.
Conductor sizes to send include 2 AWG, 1/0 through 4/0, and larger sizes up to 1000 kcmil. Our size pages cover 1/0 to 4/0 wire, 250 to 500 kcmil conductors and 600 to 1000 kcmil cable. Not every size is available in every voltage and construction. Use the actual reel specification, not the cable's outside diameter.
For other cable left from the same project, see the wire and cable we buy.
Listings, insulation and shield construction
A shielded MV cable typically has a stranded conductor, a semiconducting conductor shield, insulation, an insulation shield and a metallic shield or concentric neutral. An outer jacket protects the assembly.
| Identification | What it tells you | What to send us |
|---|---|---|
| MV-90 | Normal conductor temperature rating of 90°C | Voltage, conductor size and the complete listing |
| MV-105 | Normal conductor temperature rating of 105°C | The separate kV rating, not just the type letters |
| EPR | Ethylene-propylene rubber insulation | Product number and insulation thickness or level |
| XLPE or TRXLPE | Cross-linked polyethylene, with TR indicating tree-retardant insulation | Exact insulation designation and manufacturer's specification |
| Copper tape shield | Metallic tape around the insulation shield | Tag or specification showing the shield construction |
| Concentric neutral | Wires arranged around the insulated core, often copper even on aluminum cable | Neutral wire size, count or fraction shown in the specification |
| UL 1072 / Type MV | Medium-voltage power cable standard and listing | Readable listing marks; record additional tray or sunlight markings separately |
| 100% or 133% insulation level | An insulation design selected for the system's grounding and fault-clearing conditions | Exact level and thickness, without assuming the two are interchangeable |
EPR and XLPE are different insulation materials. Neither abbreviation alone establishes the temperature rating, shield design or permitted installation method. Also, 133% insulation level does not mean 133% more current capacity.
Read the jacket print and reel tag together
Photograph a complete repeat of the jacket legend. Depending on the product, it may show the manufacturer, product family, conductor size in AWG or kcmil, CU or AL, conductor count, insulation designation, voltage, MV type, UL marking and manufacture date. Temperature may appear directly or through the MV-90 or MV-105 designation. Print layouts vary, so do not expect every field in the same order.
The reel tag may add the catalog number, reel or lot number, original footage, insulation thickness and shield details. Keep it attached. Use our reel tag and jacket-print guide if you cannot tell which field identifies the conductor size.
Sequential footage marks, when present, help document length. A single mark is not the footage remaining. Send your remaining-length record and say if it is an estimate. The original tag length may no longer apply to a partial reel.
Date codes are not always plain month-and-year text. Send a clear image rather than guessing. Black jackets or colored stripes alone cannot establish voltage, conductor metal or listing.
Photos that show the cable's condition
For an MV lot, the end seals deserve as much attention as the reel tag. Southwire's handling guidance calls for sealed cable ends to prevent moisture entry. Its manual also warns that water remaining inside medium-voltage cable can speed insulation deterioration.
Send these views without cutting into the cable:
- The whole lot, showing each reel and any separate lengths.
- Each reel tag and a legible, complete jacket print repeat.
- Both accessible cable ends, including caps or seals. Identify an end you cannot safely reach.
- Reel flanges and the exposed cable wraps, including any crushed spots, cuts or abrasions.
- Any existing exposed shield or conductor, without removing an intact seal to create a photo.
Label the photos by reel number. With your offer request, include the city, footage per reel and available factory test reports. Match reports to reel or lot identifiers where possible. Keep purchase records and the manufacturer's data sheet with the same inventory entry.
What helps or hurts an MV cable offer
Long continuous lengths and matching reels help us assess the cable for reuse. Matching means more than conductor size: compare voltage, insulation level, conductor metal, shield or neutral construction, jacket and listing. Three reels with different specifications should not be listed as a matched set.
Readable tags, manufacture dates, sealed ends and traceable test records help explain what you have. Tell us how the reels were stored and whether they were exposed to standing water or prolonged sun. Describe cracked flanges, missing caps, tight bends and any known pulling damage. A reel that looks full can still have a damaged outer wrap.
A water-blocked construction does not replace intact seals or establish that an open-ended reel stayed dry. Likewise, an old factory test report documents the cable at that time, not its condition after storage or handling.
We do not buy cable pulled out of service, burned or damaged material, or pieces too short to install. We also need proof that you own the cable and have authority to sell it. An invoice, purchase order or job closeout record can support that review.
Arizona projects that can leave unused MV reels
Solar collection circuits and grid connections are relevant places to check for unused MV inventory after route changes or closeout. Near Coolidge in Pinal County, SRP's 2024 completion announcement described Eleven Mile Solar System as a 300 MW solar project paired with battery storage. That is an example of the project scale behind solar and battery project cable lots, not evidence that this project has reels for sale.
Data-center feeders are another source to review when construction phases change or planned runs become shorter. Southland describes Vantage AZ1 in Goodyear as an ongoing data-center campus project scheduled for completion in 2028. Sellers handling data-center surplus cable should separate unused feeder reels from cable already installed or energized.
On either kind of job, keep MV collection or feeder cable distinct from solar PV wire and URD cable. A solar job label or a general underground-distribution description is not enough to establish the voltage class. Read each reel's markings before grouping the inventory.
Mistakes to avoid before selling
Do not remove sealed caps just to show the conductor metal. The tag and jacket usually provide that information. If an end is already open, document it and follow the manufacturer's sealing guidance; do not hide its exposure history.
Do not cut a long MV length into smaller pieces to make it easier to move. Preserve the continuous length and keep the reel identity with it. Do not erase faded markings with harsh cleaners or transfer another reel's tag to an unidentified length.
Finally, confirm which company owns the unused cable before offering it. Owner-furnished reels may need written release even when they remain at your jobsite. Include that authorization with the inventory so ownership and cable identification can be reviewed together.