Copper Wire
Insulated copper, bare copper and grounding conductors in all common sizes.
We buy surplus aluminum wire and cable in Illinois
Aluminum XHHW-2, SER, SEU, feeder and service cable from contractors, distributors and facilities across Illinois.
Aluminum carries the big feeders
Most service entrances, feeders and long underground runs in Illinois are aluminum, because it is lighter and cheaper per amp than copper at large sizes. That also means aluminum is what gets left over when a project is re-scoped: a reel of 4/0 XHHW-2 or a coil of 350 MCM SER that nobody wants to store.
We buy aluminum building wire and cable from #6 through 1000 MCM, including AA-8000 series alloy conductor, aluminum SER and SEU, URD and USE-2, and multi-conductor feeder cable.
Why the alloy and the tag matter
Building wire aluminum is an AA-8000 series alloy; older, non-compliant aluminum conductor is a different material and is reviewed separately. The reel tag tells us which one you have. Where the tag is gone, the jacket legend and the manufacturer's print on the conductor usually identify it.
Because aluminum is priced against a different market than copper, mixed loads are quoted line by line. Tell us which reels are aluminum so we do not have to guess from photographs.
Specs
Aluminum products we review
Service and feeder sizes dominate Illinois surplus loads. Smaller branch circuit aluminum is welcome but quoted individually.
| Product | Typical use | Sizes | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|
| XHHW-2 aluminum | Feeders, sub-panels, service raceways | #6 – 1000 MCM | 600 V |
| SER aluminum | Service entrance, round multi-conductor | #6 – 4/0 | 600 V |
| SEU aluminum | Service entrance, concentric neutral | #6 – 4/0 | 600 V |
| URD aluminum | Direct-burial distribution | #6 – 500 MCM | 600 V |
| USE-2 aluminum | Underground service entrance | #6 – 500 MCM | 600 V |
| Feeder cable | Multi-conductor, 3 and 4 wire | #1 – 750 MCM | 600 V |
Condition & paperwork
Storage and condition notes
Aluminum tolerates storage well — but water in an open reel does not.
Sealed reels stored indoors or under cover are straightforward. Reels that have sat outdoors with a torn wrap are inspected for water tracking between conductors and corrosion at the cut end; that is a condition issue we will raise before quoting rather than after.
Cut lengths are acceptable when the construction is identifiable and the ends are clean. A coil of 250 MCM with no tag and no legend is difficult to price; a photo of the printed legend solves it.
If the load includes lugs, connectors or termination kits, leave them out of the wire request — this program buys conductor, not fittings.
Helpful numbers
Call +1 (614) 715-3047 with the reel tag in front of you. If the tag is gone, a tape measure and a photo of the cut end gets us close.
Questions
Aluminum cable questions
Is aluminum wire worth selling as surplus?
At feeder and service sizes, yes. A reel of 4/0 aluminum has meaningful metal value and is in demand for service work. Small branch-circuit aluminum is worth less per pound and may not justify freight on its own, which we will say up front.
Do you buy aluminum URD and USE-2?
Yes, including direct-burial URD in duplex, triplex and quadruplex constructions and dual-rated USE-2/RHW-2 cable. Tell us the conductor count and whether it is aluminum or copper-clad.
What if the reel tag says aluminum but I am not sure of the alloy?
Send a photo of the tag and the jacket print. AA-8000 series alloy is normally identified in the legend or on the tag. If it cannot be established, we will treat it as unknown and price accordingly.
Related
Other wire we buy
Loads are often mixed. If your reels span more than one category, send the whole list in one request.
Building Wire
THHN, THWN, THWN-2, XHHW and XHHW-2 branch-circuit and feeder wire.
Service Entrance & Underground Cable
SER, SEU, URD and USE-2 service-entrance and underground distribution cable.
Quote
Quote your aluminum cable
We review every request and reply with a quote or the questions that would let us price it.
Ready to move that surplus wire?
Send the wire type, footage or reel count, and a few photos. We review every request and reply with a quote or a request for more detail.