What counts as URD cable
URD means underground residential distribution. Sellers often use the name for black, insulated aluminum conductors twisted into an underground service cable. The name alone does not establish a voltage rating or UL listing. Identify the actual cable before grouping your reels.
URD is one of the wire and cable types we buy. We buy new, leftover and used cable on full reels, partial reels, in cut lengths and mixed lots. Send photos and we will make an offer.
| Cable family | Typical construction | Rating and identification to check |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary triplex URD | Two insulated phase conductors and one insulated neutral, commonly aluminum with cross-linked polyethylene insulation | Usually 600 V; record both phase sizes and the neutral size |
| Secondary quadruplex URD | Three insulated phase conductors and one insulated neutral, commonly stranded aluminum with cross-linked polyethylene insulation | Usually 600 V; confirm whether the neutral is full size or reduced |
| Tri-rated triplex | An assembly with conductors marked RHH/RHW-2/USE-2; 8000-series aluminum constructions are available | 600 V; verify the actual type markings. Manufacturer references include UL 44 and UL 854 |
| Primary underground distribution cable | Shielded construction, often with copper concentric-neutral wires around an insulated aluminum or copper phase conductor | Medium voltage, not ordinary 600 V secondary URD; record the kV rating and neutral construction |
Utility aluminum constructions can use 1350 aluminum, while tri-rated products may use 8000-series alloy. Do not describe all aluminum URD as the same alloy. Our USE-2 and RHW-2 page covers those markings separately. Shielded primary reels belong with medium-voltage cable.
Sizes and conductor metals we review
We review aluminum URD and copper underground distribution cable. Common secondary reel sizes include 4 AWG, 2 AWG, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0. Larger secondary constructions include 250, 350 and 500 kcmil, with some quadruplex products reaching 750 kcmil. Those are examples, not a requirement that every reel match one standard combination.
For inventory by size, see 8 through 1 AWG wire, 1/0 through 4/0 conductors and 250 through 500 kcmil wire. Record every size in the assembly. A triplex with two 4/0 phases and a 2/0 neutral is not the same as three 4/0 conductors.
We review 600 V secondary URD and medium-voltage cable rated from 5 kV to 35 kV. Do not infer the voltage from cable diameter, conductor size or the job where it was ordered.
Read the conductor print and reel tag together
Many secondary URD assemblies have no common outer jacket. The identifying print is on the insulation of an individual conductor. Photograph that surface rather than searching only for a jacket around the whole bundle.
Capture these fields wherever they appear:
- Manufacturer, product code or code word, plus the reel or lot number.
- Type letters such as USE-2, RHH or RHW-2, if present.
- Conductor size in AWG or kcmil, metal designation such as AL or CU, and alloy information when shown.
- Voltage and temperature ratings, plus any UL marking or other standards reference.
- Sequential footage marks, manufacture date or date code, and original reel length.
Not every utility cable shows all these fields. Keep the purchase documentation with the reel when the print is incomplete. Use the reel tag and print-line guide to match the cable to its packaging information.
Neutral stripes help identify the assembly, but colors vary. Southwire's reviewed quadruplex specification uses three yellow neutral stripes; KINGWIRE's reviewed tri-rated triplex sheet uses three white stripes. Match the stripe, print and tag instead of naming the cable by color alone.
Photos that let us identify your lot
Send actual photos of your material. Start with the whole reel, including both flanges and the cable wound on it. Then photograph the complete tag and a readable section of conductor print. Take several close-ups if the identification extends beyond one frame.
Show the exposed end of the assembly without cutting or stripping it. We need to distinguish triplex from quadruplex and see any neutral-size difference. Include close-ups of damaged insulation, loose wraps, broken flanges or weathered areas rather than showing only the clean side.
For partial reels, give the estimated remaining cable length and photograph accessible footage marks. The original tag length may no longer describe what remains. List separate lengths separately instead of adding them together as though they were one continuous run.
If you have several reels, assign each a simple inventory number. Use that number in the photos and list so we can match each size and length to the correct reel. Send those details through Get an Offer.
What helps or hurts a URD offer
Matching reels with readable identification and useful continuous lengths are easier to review than mixed, unmarked assemblies. Full reels generally have an advantage over short lengths. Neutral size, listing and conductor alloy matter because they determine which jobs the cable can fit.
Condition affects the offer. Deep cuts, crushed insulation, damaged conductor ends and missing lengths all affect our review. Report any splice or repair rather than presenting the reel as untouched. We buy cable in all conditions; clear photos help us assess the lot and make a written offer.
Tell us about outdoor storage in Arizona sun and heat, water exposure and how the ends were protected. These storage details affect the offer. For shielded primary cable, sealed ends and any available test records are especially important when we assess its condition.
A readable date code and original documentation help us assess older inventory. Current product demand and conductor-metal markets also affect the written offer.
Arizona jobs that can leave unused URD reels
Subdivision service installations are a natural place to check for leftover secondary triplex and quadruplex. Changed service routes, revised lot counts and material ordered beyond the final installed length can leave unused cable at closeout. We confirm who is selling and the name of the person releasing the material.
Maricopa County had 31,651 new private housing units authorized by building permits in 2025, according to Census data published through FRED. That is housing authorized, not completed homes. It gives context for the subdivision and multifamily work around Phoenix and its surrounding communities, where homebuilders and multifamily contractors should check closeout inventories.
Utility distribution extensions and grid-connected energy projects can also leave unused distribution cable. SRP's October 2024 announcement described completion of the Eleven Mile Solar System near Coolidge in Pinal County, combining solar generation with battery storage. That is an example of utility-linked project work, not a claim that this project has URD available or sells to us. Identify each reel separately: shielded primary distribution cable is different from secondary URD and from cable connecting solar modules.
For utility and co-op surplus cable, we keep simple purchase or release paperwork and confirm the person authorized to sell the reels.
Mistakes to avoid before offering a reel
Do not unwind or cut a usable reel just to make it easier to count. Preserve the continuous length and report uncertainty about footage. Do not multiply assembled cable footage by the number of conductors.
Keep tags with their original reels. A familiar product code or neutral stripe is not enough to replace the conductor print. Do not assume underground cable is approved for every indoor use, or combine 600 V and medium-voltage reels under one description.
We buy both unused leftovers and used cable from upgrades. Send photos and details for an offer. As a simple part of each purchase, we confirm who is selling and keep an invoice, purchase order, job closeout paperwork or company letter, along with the name of the person releasing the material.