Copper Wire
Insulated copper, bare copper and grounding conductors in all common sizes.
We buy surplus SER, SEU, URD and USE-2 cable in Illinois
Service-entrance and underground distribution cable from contractors, utilities and facilities across Illinois — copper or aluminum, full reels or partial.
Service cable is ordered in long lengths and sold in short ones
Service-entrance and underground cable is usually ordered with margin: the run is 180 feet, the reel is 250. That leftover 70 feet, and the spare reel nobody opened, is what fills the racks at electrical contractors across Illinois.
We buy SER, SEU, URD and USE-2 in copper and aluminum, from #6 through 500 MCM, including duplex, triplex and quadruplex URD assemblies and dual-rated USE-2/RHW-2 cable.
Four constructions, four different uses
SER is round service-entrance cable for above-ground runs; SEU is the older flat or round construction with a concentric neutral; URD is direct-burial distribution cable, often multiplexed; USE-2 is underground service-entrance conductor rated for wet locations. They are not interchangeable, and the reel tag is the only reliable way to tell them apart at a glance.
If the tag is gone, the jacket print and the conductor arrangement identify the cable. Send a close-up of the print and a wide shot of the reel end.
Specs
Service and underground constructions
Typical sizes and applications. Tell us the conductor count and whether the conductor is copper or aluminum.
| Type | Construction | Typical use | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SER | Round, 3 or 4 conductor with ground | Above-ground service entrance | #6 – 4/0 |
| SEU | Concentric neutral, 2 or 3 conductor | Residential service entrance | #6 – 4/0 |
| URD | XLPE, direct burial, multiplex | Underground distribution | #6 – 500 MCM |
| USE-2 | Single conductor, wet rated | Underground service entrance | #6 – 500 MCM |
| USE-2/RHW-2 | Dual-rated, direct burial | Service and feeder in conduit | #6 – 500 MCM |
Condition & paperwork
Underground cable and water
Direct-burial cable is designed for wet ground, not for a torn jacket.
Sealed, unused URD and USE-2 on the original reel is the easy case. Reels stored outdoors with damaged wrap are inspected for jacket damage, water ingress at the end and sun damage to the outer jacket; any of those changes the offer, so we raise it before quoting.
Cut lengths are common and welcome when the footage is known. A 40-foot piece of 4/0 SER with clean ends is straightforward; a coil of unknown service cable is priced as unknown until it can be identified.
Tell us how the reels are stored — indoors, under cover or on the ground — so we can plan inspection and loading honestly.
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
Service cable questions
Do you buy leftover SER from a residential job?
Yes, including short cut lengths. Small quantities are usually reviewed with other material from the same shop, so mention any additional reels you have.
Is URD always aluminum?
No. URD is available in both copper and aluminum, and the reel tag or jacket print states which. Aluminum is more common in distribution work at larger sizes.
Can you take a reel with the jacket damaged at one end?
Often yes, with the damaged section cut back and the remaining footage confirmed. Photograph the damage so we can account for it in the quote instead of discovering it at pickup.
Related
Other wire we buy
Loads are often mixed. If your reels span more than one category, send the whole list in one request.
Aluminum Wire & Cable
XHHW-2 aluminum, aluminum SER/SEU and aluminum feeder and service cable.
Medium & High Voltage Cable
5 kV through 69 kV+ EPR, XLPE, concentric-neutral and shielded cable.
Quote
Quote your service 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.