What counts as PV wire
Photovoltaic, or PV, wire is single-conductor insulated wire used for interconnection wiring in solar power systems. UL 4703 covers sunlight-resistant PV wire with integral or separate jackets. Cross-linked polyethylene, abbreviated XLPE, is a common insulation construction on copper and aluminum PV products.
A solar job can leave several different wire families. Identify each reel by its markings, not by the project it came from. Our wire and cable categories help you separate PV wire from other surplus electrical wire and cable.
| Wire or cable marking | Common construction | What matters when selling |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Type PV | Stranded copper with XLPE insulation on common products | Record the PV designation, size, color and marked voltage. |
| Aluminum Type PV | Stranded aluminum alloy with XLPE insulation; compact stranding is available | Identify the conductor metal and alloy from the tag or specification. Do not group it with copper. |
| PV with RHH/RHW-2 markings | One conductor carrying multiple type designations | Photograph every designation. The additional letters do not replace the PV marking. |
| USE-2, with or without RHW-2 | Insulated underground service-entrance conductor | List it separately unless the actual product also carries a PV designation. |
USE-2 and RHW-2 wire are separate categories worth identifying accurately. Likewise, THHN and THWN-2 building wire from the AC side of a solar installation should not be described as PV wire just because it shares the same job number.
Sizes, metals and voltage ratings we buy
We buy unused copper and aluminum solar wire on full reels, partial reels, boxed coils and cut lengths still long enough to install. Send the length of each continuous piece, not only a combined total.
Our wire-buying range is 14 AWG through 1000 kcmil. Manufacturer examples show copper PV products across that range and aluminum PV products from 6 AWG through 1000 kcmil. Those ranges describe product families, not every available size or construction from every brand.
Include 14, 12 and 10 AWG reels in the inventory alongside larger feeders. For substantial DC feeder leftovers, identify 250 to 500 kcmil conductors by their full size and metal designation.
We review PV wire marked 600 V, 1000 V or 2000 V. UL 4703 includes these voltage ratings. Record the cable rating rather than assuming it matches the solar system voltage. A 2000 V cable is not automatically a medium-voltage collection cable.
Temperature ratings also vary. UL 4703 includes 90°C wet ratings and several dry ratings. The Southwire copper and aluminum XLPE products cited below specify 90°C normal operation in wet and dry locations. Report your reel's actual markings, not a rating borrowed from another product.
Read the print line and reel tag together
Look along the outer insulation or jacket for the repeating print line. Typical fields include the manufacturer, PV or other type letters, AWG or kcmil size, conductor information, voltage and temperature rating. Listing marks, sunlight-resistance wording, footage marks and a manufacturing date or lot code may also appear. Not every field appears on every product.
The reel tag can add a catalog number, conductor metal, stranding, color, original length, reel number and manufacturing information. These details help match the reel to its specification when the print is faded or partly hidden.
Photograph enough of the print to capture a complete repeat. A close-up showing only the word PV leaves important questions unanswered. If the date code is unclear, send it as printed instead of guessing its meaning.
Use the reel tag and jacket print guide to organize the details. Keep the original tag attached, even after making a separate label for remaining footage.
Photos that make a solar lot easier to review
Use photos of your actual material. A catalog image cannot show whether a reel has crushed flanges, missing labels or damaged outer wraps.
- Take one wide photo showing the whole lot and how the reels are grouped.
- Photograph each tag square-on so the product code, size and original footage are readable.
- Capture a complete print-line repeat, including voltage and temperature marks.
- Show the outer wraps, both reel flanges and any visible cuts, abrasion or exposed conductor.
- Photograph accessible footage marks without unwinding a heavy reel just for pictures.
Give each reel an inventory ID and use it in the photo names or list. Separate copper from aluminum and separate different voltage ratings. If several matching reels have different remaining lengths, list those lengths individually.
Send that inventory through Get an Offer, with the Arizona location and a note explaining any estimated footage. Do not call a partial reel full simply because the original tag still shows its shipping length.
What helps or hurts an offer for PV wire
Matching unused reels with readable PV markings and known continuous footage are easier to evaluate than loose, mixed cuts. Color, voltage, conductor size and stranding help identify which products match. A group of black reels may still contain several incompatible specifications.
Long, continuous feeder lengths preserve more installation options. Several short pieces wound together do not equal one continuous run. For smaller string wire, retain the packaging and distinguish unused cuts from leads removed from an operating array.
Sunlight resistance does not mean condition can be ignored. Describe outdoor exposure and show any cracking, scuffed insulation, flattened sections or water exposure. An intact print line does not prove the rest of the reel is undamaged.
The offer also depends on the manufacturer, date information and current demand for the exact product. Do not remove insulation or cut reels into smaller pieces to prepare them for sale. We do not buy burned or damaged wire, wire pulled out of service, or material you cannot show you own.
Arizona solar projects and leftover reels
Utility-scale solar construction and solar-plus-storage work are relevant sources of potential unused wire. String layouts, revised feeder routes and final purchasing adjustments can leave full reels or usable partial reels after installation. These are possible closeout situations, not claims about available material at a named project.
Near Coolidge in Pinal County, SRP's October 2024 completion announcement describes Eleven Mile Solar System with 300 MW of solar and co-located battery storage. In Maricopa County, Recurrent Energy's October 2024 announcement scheduled Papago Solar construction for 2025 and operation for 2026. That announcement is a schedule, not confirmation here of its present completion status.
These projects show why Arizona solar and battery project closeouts may contain different electrical cable families. Keep PV conductors separate from battery-system cable, AC feeders and collection cable when preparing your list.
For electrical contractors with job leftovers, identify which company owns each reel before offering it. Owner-furnished cable may require a release from the project owner rather than approval from the person storing it. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.
Mistakes to avoid before releasing the lot
Do not infer voltage, metal or listing from insulation color. Do not label USE-2 as PV without the supporting marking. Keep purchase records and product specifications with any reel whose print is difficult to read.
Avoid counting the original reel-tag footage as the remaining length. Disclose mixed cuts, missing tags and storage damage before the written offer is prepared. If a reel contains unused material alongside cable removed from service, identify that distinction rather than presenting the entire reel as unused.
Finally, confirm who has authority to sell company-owned material. An invoice, purchase order or job closeout record can help establish ownership. Clear specifications and a reel-by-reel inventory prevent confusion when the material is checked against the written terms at pickup.