Wire category
SELL SURPLUS XHHW AND XHHW-2 WIRE
Cross-linked polyethylene wire is what commercial feeders and service conductors are made of — and it is where larger surplus quantities usually sit.
Leftover project wire? Sell it now — don’t scrap it.
Cross-linked polyethylene insulation
XHHW uses XLPE insulation rather than PVC, giving it better resistance to heat and moisture. The base XHHW rating is 75°C wet and 90°C dry; XHHW-2 extends the 90°C rating to wet locations. Both are 600V constructions.
It is used for feeders, service conductors, sub-panels, outdoor conduit runs and anything where moisture is a realistic condition. It is sold in copper and, in large volumes, in aluminum.
Sizes and packaging
- #14 – #10 — smaller branch circuits, less common as surplus in XHHW.
- #8 – #2 — sub-panels and small feeders.
- 1/0 – 4/0 — commercial feeders and services, copper and aluminum.
- 250 – 1000 MCM — main services, distribution and parallel feeders.
Reels of 1,000 ft and 2,500 ft are typical for larger sizes. Aluminum XHHW often arrives on large wooden reels that were never opened, which is the cleanest kind of surplus to quote.
Reading the legend
The print on XHHW jacket carries the size, the temperature and wet-location rating, the voltage and often the alloy for aluminum. Typical legends read 4/0 AWG XHHW-2 600V AL or 500 MCM XHHW-2 CU.
Where a reel has been unwound, the printing rotates around the circumference — photograph a section of jacket rather than one spot, and make sure the size and voltage are legible.
Condition and storage
XLPE is durable, which makes XHHW the most forgiving wire to store. The usual problems are mechanical rather than chemical:
- Crushed or broken reels, especially large wooden ones handled with forklifts
- Abrasion from being dragged across concrete
- Water inside the wrap when reels sit on the ground
- Lost tags on long-stored stock, where the legend is the only identification
Sun exposure alone rarely destroys XLPE in the way it destroys thermoplastic, but we still ask how and where it was stored.
Request a quote
Send your XHHW 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 aluminum XHHW?
Yes, and it is one of the more common large surplus items we quote. Sizes from 1/0 through 500 MCM are the sweet spot.
Do you buy XHHW in short lengths?
Unused cut lengths are considered when the length and size are known. Short ends of large sizes still carry value.
Can you identify wire with no tag?
Usually. The jacket legend carries the type, size and voltage, and photographing it is enough in most cases.
Is XHHW-2 different from XHHW?
XHHW-2 is rated 90°C in wet locations as well as dry. Both are 600V constructions, and pricing is similar; identification is what matters.
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.