Separate SER, SEU and mobile home feeder
Service entrance cable carries power to service equipment and can serve other permitted wiring uses. SER and SEU are styles of Type SE cable. The letters describe different constructions, not interchangeable names for any aluminum feeder.
We buy copper and aluminum service entrance cable, new, leftover or used. Include related material in your inventory, but identify each product separately. Our wire and cable buying categories help sort a mixed residential closeout.
| Product | Common construction | Ratings and references to check |
|---|---|---|
| SER, Style R | Typical residential construction has two insulated phase conductors, an insulated neutral and a separate bare equipment ground inside a common jacket | 600 V; UL 854 service entrance cable; internal conductors may be XHHW-2 or THHN/THWN, depending on the product |
| SEU, Style U | Typical aluminum construction has two insulated phase conductors and a helically wrapped bare neutral under a common jacket | 600 V; UL 854; internal conductor insulation may be XHHW-2 or THHN |
| Aluminum mobile home feeder, MHF | Four insulated conductors twisted together, with an identified neutral and green equipment ground; no common overall jacket in the referenced construction | 600 V; look for USE-2 and any RHH/RHW-2 markings; the referenced product is rated for direct burial and 90°C conductor operation |
Gray PVC jackets appear on the referenced SER and SEU products, but color alone cannot identify the cable. Modern aluminum versions commonly use compact 8000-series alloy conductors. The referenced copper SER uses compressed stranded conductors. Confirm construction from the product code rather than jacket diameter.
Sizes and combinations we review
Send all conductor sizes, including the neutral and ground. For example, a typical 2-2-2-4 SER combination describes three insulated 2 AWG conductors and a 4 AWG bare ground. A 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 SER combination has a different ground size and is not the same product as 4/0 SEU.
The manufacturer references include aluminum SER with phase sizes from 8 AWG through 250 kcmil, aluminum SEU from 8 AWG through 4/0, and copper SER examples from 6 AWG through 3/0. These are product examples, not a complete list of what you may submit. We review 600 V surplus service entrance cable in full reels, partial reels, coils and cut lengths.
For smaller feeders, see 8 AWG through 1 AWG wire. Larger residential service and feeder lots fit the 1/0 through 4/0 size group. List 250 kcmil SER with the larger kcmil feeder sizes, using its complete conductor combination.
Do not describe a reel only as cable for a particular service amperage. Conductor metal, insulation, installation conditions and termination ratings matter. A temperature marking is not permission to use that temperature column for every installation.
Read the jacket and reel tag together
Photograph enough of the jacket to capture one complete repeating legend. Look for Type SE with Style R or Style U, or the SER or SEU designation. Record the conductor count and size, aluminum or copper identification, voltage, insulation type and any temperature marking. Include the UL marking or file number, manufacturer identification, footage marks and any date or production code that is present.
A jacket may identify the insulated conductors without spelling out every neutral or ground detail. The reel tag or catalog number can resolve that gap. Preserve the tag showing product code, complete size combination, original footage and reel or lot identification. Do not guess a manufacture date from an unfamiliar code. Send the code as printed.
For MHF, photograph the individual conductor legends because there may be no overall jacket print. A white-striped neutral and green ground help identify the assembly, but the type letters still matter. The reel tag and jacket-print guide explains how to capture information split across several photos.
Photos that make the lot identifiable
Use photos of your actual cable, not a catalog image. A useful set includes:
- The full reel or coil, with both flanges visible where practical.
- A close-up of the complete tag and a readable jacket legend.
- An existing exposed cable end showing the insulated conductors, neutral and ground. Do not cut sound cable just for a photo.
- Any flattened areas, splits, tight kinks or damaged packaging.
- The entire lot, with reel numbers that match your inventory list.
Give remaining continuous footage for each reel or coil. Original tag footage is not remaining footage after cuts. If you only have an estimate, label it as an estimate. List separate lengths separately rather than adding them into one apparent run. Submit these details through Get an Offer, including where the material is in Arizona.
What helps or hurts a SER or SEU offer
Long continuous runs are more useful than many short pieces, especially for panel feeders. Matching reels of the same size combination make the lot easier to review. Readable tags, jacket condition and clear footage records help us identify material and affect the offer.
Missing ground-size information can leave two similar-looking SER reels unidentified. Mixed SER and SEU coils, unreadable print or an uncertain copper-versus-aluminum description affect the offer. Photograph each distinct product rather than assuming all gray cable matches.
Show any reel damage, crushed jacket or sharp bends. Tell us about outdoor storage, sun exposure and water exposure. These conditions affect the offer. Sunlight-resistant labeling does not establish that a reel remains undamaged after storage. Keep cable supported and protected while it is waiting for review.
We buy all types of electrical wire and cable, including used cable and mixed lots. Send photos 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.
Arizona residential and multifamily leftovers
Residential construction is the relevant Arizona market for these products. Census data through FRED show 31,651 housing units authorized by building permits in Maricopa County in 2025, across structure types. That figure describes authorized housing, not completed homes or available surplus cable.
For a homebuilder or multifamily closeout, look for unused SER remaining after apartment panel feeders, changes to unit layouts or revised cable routes. House-building work around Phoenix, Mesa and the West Valley can leave reels purchased for a phase that was reduced or changed. These are possible leftover sources, not claims that a named development sells cable to us.
Electrical contractors with surplus inventory may also have unused SEU ordered for service work or MHF left after manufactured-home connections. Include new leftover cable and used wire in your inventory. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.
Mistakes to avoid before listing the cable
Do not label SEU as four-wire SER or assume its bare neutral is a separate equipment ground. Keep USE-2 and RHW-2 material distinct from jacketed Type SE cable. The referenced manufacturer specifications state that SE cable is not permitted underground, even inside a raceway. MHF with the appropriate listing is a different product.
Do not strip the jacket to show the metal or cut a long run into easier-to-carry pieces. Keep labels attached to the correct reels. If loose XHHW-2 feeder conductors are included, inventory them separately rather than describing them as SER without a jacket. Keep your inventory tied to individual reels so the material can be checked against the written offer.