Wire category
SELL SURPLUS TRAY, CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION CABLE
Multi-conductor cable from panels, trays and process lines. If a project was re-scoped, this is usually what is left on the shelf.
Leftover project wire? Sell it now — don’t scrap it.
Tray cable
Tray cable is a multiconductor cable rated for installation in cable trays without conduit. TC-ER adds the exposed-run rating that allows it to leave the tray and travel to equipment. Constructions are typically 600V, 90°C, with PVC/nylon insulated conductors and an overall jacket.
Common surplus formats are 3-conductor and 4-conductor power constructions from 14 AWG through 750 MCM, plus multi-pair control versions.
PLTC and power-limited cable
Power-limited tray cable is rated 300V and used for instrumentation, control, alarm and signal circuits. It comes in twisted pairs and triads, with and without shields, and is often the cable left over from a controls upgrade.
PLTC is easy to confuse with TC at a glance. The jacket legend settles it, and so does the voltage rating printed on the cable.
Instrumentation and shielded cable
- Shielded pairs and triads — foil shield with drain wire, braid shield, or both.
- Thermocouple extension cable — type J, K, T and E, with color-coded conductors.
- Armored instrumentation — aluminum interlocked armor over shielded pairs, common in process plants.
- Multi-pair control cable — 4 to 36 pairs and beyond, from MCC and panel work.
Shield type affects both use and value, so photograph the cut end where the foil, braid and drain wire are visible.
What we look for
- Water ingress — the main reason tray cable is declined; a jacket that has been open to the weather wicks moisture along the conductors.
- UV damage — sunlight degrades PVC jackets over years, visible as fading and cracking.
- Cut-back ends — fine for identification, but long stripped sections indicate a partially consumed reel.
- Pair count and shield — both must be identifiable to price it.
- Footage — full reels carry the best value; partials need an honest estimate.
Request a quote
Send your tray and control 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
How do I tell TC from PLTC?
The jacket legend: PLTC is a 300V power-limited rating, TC is a 600V tray rating. Photograph the printing and it can be confirmed.
Do you buy instrumentation cable with foil shields?
Yes, including shielded pairs, triads and armored instrumentation constructions.
Do you buy thermocouple cable?
Yes, in reels and unused lengths. Type and pair count need to be identifiable.
Do you buy tray cable that sat outdoors?
It is reviewed carefully. Sun and water damage are the two things that most often make tray cable unusable.
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.