Start with unused material that can still be installed
An unopened reel is easy to describe, but an opened reel can qualify too. We buy new and unused surplus wire, including leftovers from a completed pull, when the remaining length and condition allow another installation. Copper and aluminum are both within the categories we review.
We do not buy wire pulled out of service, burned or damaged cable, or wire chopped into short pieces. We also cannot buy material you cannot show you own. A large quantity does not change those limits. Keep usable leftovers separate from removed cable before photographing the lot.
Match your material to its wire family
Start with the type printed on the insulation, jacket or packaging. The THHN and THWN-2 guide fits wire carrying those markings. If the label says XHHW-2, use the XHHW-2 feeder guide, even when the conductor size looks similar.
The table shows what to identify for each family. The copper and aluminum rows describe conductor materials that also appear within several other rows.
| Wire family | What we look for |
|---|---|
| THHN and THWN-2 | Complete type markings, size, conductor metal, color and footage per reel. |
| XHHW-2 | Readable feeder labels with size, copper or aluminum, and matching reel lengths. |
| USE-2 and RHW-2 | Every type marking on the print line, not just the job description. |
| NM-B and UF-B | Intact boxed coils or reels with cable type, size and conductor count. |
| SER and SEU | Packaging that identifies the exact assembly and each conductor's size. |
| MC cable | Coil tags showing size, conductor count and the specific MC construction. |
| Armored and jacketed armored cable | Exact product designation, intact armor and readable outer-jacket markings where present. |
| Copper wire and cable | Unused, identifiable copper products with usable lengths and original product information. |
| Aluminum wire and feeders | Conductor size, insulation type and remaining footage for each aluminum reel. |
| URD | Assembly identification, individual conductor sizes and footage, not only a trade name. |
| Medium voltage cable | 5 kV to 35 kV ratings, shield details, readable tags and sealed ends. |
| Bare copper | Original reel identification, conductor size and solid or stranded construction. |
| Solar PV wire | PV marking, voltage rating, conductor metal and footage on each reel. |
| Tray cable | TC or TC-ER designation, conductor count, size and readable jacket print. |
| Control and instrumentation cable | Part number, conductor or pair count, shielding details and remaining length. |
| VFD cable | Exact manufacturer product number, size and documented cable construction. |
| Welding and DLO cable | Specific type marking, conductor size and continuous unused lengths. |
| Portable cord | SOOW, SJOOW or other product designation, size and conductor count. |
| Mining cable | Exact cable type, voltage, construction information and unused reel condition. |
| Fire alarm cable | Listing designation, conductor count, size and shielded or unshielded construction. |
| Cat6, Cat6A and coax | Box or reel part number, cable category or coax type, and footage. |
| Fiber optic cable | Part number, fiber type, fiber count and intact original reel identification. |
You do not need to identify every detail before asking us to review it. A clear label photo is more useful than a guessed cable type.
Full reels, partial reels, coils and cut lengths
Packaging tells us how the material is organized. It does not, by itself, establish the remaining footage or condition.
| Packaging | Can we review it? | What to send |
|---|---|---|
| Full reels | Yes, if new and unused. | Original tag, whole reel, stated footage and visible condition. |
| Partial reels | Yes, if the remainder is usable. | Tag, estimated remaining footage and how you determined that estimate. |
| Boxed coils | Yes, if the cable is unused and intact. | Box label, cable type, original length and remaining length if opened. |
| Cut lengths | Yes, if still long enough to install. | Length of each piece, type, size and photos of its condition. |
Do not add separate cut pieces together and describe the total as one continuous length. Keep the original tag with an opened reel, but note that its original footage may no longer describe the wire on it. There is no universal minimum quantity. Send the lot details so we can review the material you actually have.
Read the full label, not just the color
Photograph enough of the print line to show the manufacturer, size, type and voltage rating. Include the manufacture date or date code when visible. For example, THHN/THWN-2, 2 AWG, CU and 600 V each describe a different part of a product's identity. Record what your wire says rather than copying those example details into your inventory.
Southwire's THHN/THWN-2 specification distinguishes the ratings: THHN covers dry locations, while THWN-2 covers wet or dry locations. Do not assume a wet-location rating from the shorthand name someone used when ordering it.
For cable with metal armor, the MC cable identification guide helps you record the assembly rather than describing only its internal wires. Grounding construction can differ between MC products. Keep the coil tag and photograph any existing visible end without dismantling the cable.
For solar leftovers, use the PV wire guide when the print identifies PV wire. Southwire's referenced PV product carries RHH/RHW-2 and PV designations and a 2000 V rating. That is a product-specific example, not a rating to assume for every black wire from a solar job.
Our wire-size guide covers the 14 AWG to 1000 kcmil range we buy. The brands guide helps you locate manufacturer information when the reel label and cable print need to be compared.
Footage and condition affect the offer together
Full reels generally receive stronger offers than short cut lengths. Several matching reels also provide a clearer inventory than a mixed pile with unknown footage. Identify differences in color, type or conductor metal instead of combining them under one size.
Tell us about sun exposure, water exposure, damaged reel flanges and unreadable tags. Do not describe material as undamaged if you see jacket cuts, crushing or other damage. A readable manufacture date helps us review the lot, but it does not replace condition photos.
Sealed ends are particularly important for medium voltage cable. Include end photos and any available test records. For a mixed industrial lot, the tray cable guide explains which label details distinguish the cable assemblies.
The offer also depends on product demand and the copper and aluminum markets.
Arizona project leftovers need their original identity
Arizona solar and battery work can involve several cable families in one closeout. SRP's Eleven Mile Solar System near Coolidge combines solar generation and battery storage. If your inventory comes from similar work, separate the PV wire, power feeders, medium voltage cable and control cable by their actual labels. The project description is not a substitute for a cable specification.
Mining work presents another mixed-material situation. Freeport-McMoRan lists Arizona operations at Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami. Contractors reviewing unused mine-project inventory should keep cable type, voltage and construction records with the reels. These are examples of Arizona electrical-intensive work, not evidence that those operators sell wire to us.
For outdoor-stored Arizona material, show both the protected and exposed sides of the reel. Tell us how it was stored and photograph the current condition. Include weathered packaging in the photos along with the readable tag.
Organize a mixed lot before requesting review
Give each reel or coil an inventory reference so its tag photo matches its footage entry. Group matching products, but keep separate lines for different remaining lengths. Include a whole-lot photo to show how the material is packaged.
Keep ownership documents with the inventory. An invoice, purchase order, job closeout record or company authorization can help establish your right to sell it. Company-owned wire needs someone with authority to release it.
Use Get an Offer to send the type, size, footage, packaging and Arizona location. We review those details for a written offer. We pick up anywhere in Arizona.