Wire category
SELL SURPLUS MC AND AC CABLE
Armored cable is the backbone of commercial branch-circuit work, and coils of it accumulate on every job. We buy full and partial coils, in copper and aluminum.
Leftover project wire? Sell it now — don’t scrap it.
MC versus AC
Both are armored cables; the difference is the jacket and the bonding method.
- MC (metal-clad) — interlocked aluminum armor, smooth aluminum or steel jacket, with a full-size insulated or bare ground depending on construction.
- AC (armored cable) — flexible steel or aluminum armor with an internal aluminum bonding strip that serves as the ground path.
- MC-AL and aluminum-conductor MC — increasingly common in larger feeder sizes for cost and weight reasons.
- Healthcare and hospital-grade MC — redundant ground constructions; identifiable from the legend.
Sizes and packaging
Common surplus sizes are 14/2, 12/2, 12/3, 10/2, 10/3 and 10/4 for branch circuits, then 8/3 through 4/0 for feeders and equipment connections.
- Coils — 25, 50, 100 and 250 ft, the standard commercial format.
- Reels — 500 and 1,000 ft for larger jobs.
- Partial coils — the most common surplus, often with the remaining length written on the wrap.
What affects an MC or AC quote
- Armor condition — crushed, kinked or unwound interlocking is difficult to reuse.
- Cut ends — normal, but the conductors should not be damaged or oxidized.
- Remaining length — coils with 120 ft left of a 250 ft coil are still worth quoting.
- Legend — confirms conductor size, count, ground type and any special rating.
- Packaging — factory wrap and banding help; loose coils that have been dragged around do not.
Removed armored cable
MC pulled out of a ceiling during a renovation is usually damaged at the armor and is reviewed cautiously. Unused coils from the same project are a different story and are easy to quote.
Request a quote
Send your MC and AC 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 partial coils?
Yes, with an approximate remaining length. Photograph the coil and the wrap so the size and condition are visible.
Do you buy aluminum MC?
Yes. Aluminum-conductor MC in larger sizes is quoted regularly.
Is MC worth the same as THHN?
No. MC carries armor and a ground, so the copper content per foot is different and pricing reflects the construction.
Do you buy armored cable from a demolition job?
Sometimes, if the armor is intact and the cable can be re-used. Heavily damaged removals are usually declined.
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.