Wire category
SURPLUS INDUSTRIAL CABLE: MC, TRAY, VFD AND CONTROL
Plant projects leave behind the most varied cable in any facility: armored cable, tray cable, drive cable and instrumentation. It is also the most misidentified, which is why tags and legends matter so much.
Leftover project wire? Sell it now — don’t scrap it.
MC and AC cable
Metal-clad and armored cable combine conductors with a metallic armor, so they can be installed without conduit in many applications. MC uses a full metal jacket — interlocked aluminum, smooth aluminum or steel — while AC uses a flexible armor with a bonding strip.
We buy both in coils and reels, in copper and aluminum conductors, from 14/2 branch circuits up to large feeder constructions.
Tray cable, PLTC, control and instrumentation
Tray cable (TC) is a multiconductor cable rated for installation in cable trays; TC-ER extends that to exposed runs between tray and equipment. PLTC is the power-limited version used for instrumentation and control circuits at 300V.
Instrumentation cable adds shielding — foil, braid or both with a drain wire — and often twisted pairs. Thermocouple extension cable is part of the same family.
VFD and drive cable
Variable-frequency drive cable is built for electrically noisy environments: three symmetrical grounds, foil and braid shielding, and XLPE insulation rated 1kV or 600V depending on construction.
It is one of the more expensive industrial cables per foot, which makes surplus reels worth reviewing even in modest quantities.
Why plants accumulate this cable
Industrial cable is bought for a specific project and rarely reused afterwards. When the project ends, the remainder goes on a shelf:
- A line move or press replacement that was cancelled or re-scoped
- An automation retrofit where the drive layout changed
- A panel rebuild that consumed less cable than planned
- Maintenance stock for equipment that has since been replaced
- Decommissioned runs pulled during a teardown, still usable in length
Facilities often have no process for valuing this material, so it sits until someone decides to clear the aisle. That is usually when we get the call.
What we need to quote industrial cable
- Type and construction — from the tag or the jacket legend, including the armor or shield type.
- Conductor count and size — 3/c 2/0, 4-pair 16 AWG, and so on.
- Voltage rating — 300V PLTC, 600V TC, 1kV VFD.
- Footage — full reels are best; partial reels need an estimate.
- Condition — armor crushed, jacket cut back, water in the cable, ends exposed.
Photograph the reel tag, the legend and the cut end. Armor and shield construction is visible at the end of the cable and confirms what the printing says.
Request a quote
Send your industrial cable details
Send the details and photos once — we review the lot and come back with a real number, not a range.
What helps us quote fast
- Cable markings and jacket legends from the reel tag
- Total footage, reel count or an estimated weight
- Whether the material is new surplus, unused or a partial reel
- How a truck gets to it — dock, forklift, ground level
Talk to a buyer
+1 (614) 715-3047
saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com
Photos and contact details are used only to evaluate and respond to this request. See the privacy notice.
Surplus wire quote request
Questions sellers ask before they call
Do you buy MC cable in short coils?
Yes, including partially used coils, when the remaining length is known.
Do you buy control cable by the foot?
We buy control and instrumentation cable in reels and in unused cut lengths, priced on the construction, size and quantity.
Do you buy cable pulled from a tray during a teardown?
Case by case. Intact jacket and legible markings make it reviewable; water-damaged or abraded cable is usually declined.
Do you buy cable with the ends cut?
Yes. Cut ends are normal on surplus; photograph the end so the conductor and shield construction can be confirmed.
Something not covered here? Call +1 (614) 715-3047 or email saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com and we will answer directly.
Surplus wire sitting in a warehouse costs money every month
Send what you have and we will tell you what it is worth. One reel, a pallet of cut lengths, or a full rack of medium-voltage cable — start with the details and a few photos.