Category 06 — Aluminum conductor
SELL SURPLUS ALUMINUM WIRE
Aluminum does most of the heavy lifting in Colorado service entrances and feeders, and surplus aluminum reels are common after a service upgrade. The alloy and the gauge determine what the reel is worth.
Aluminum constructions we review
AA-8000 series aluminum building wire in XHHW-2 and THHN/THWN-2, aluminum SER and SEU service-entrance cable, URD and USE-2 direct-burial cable, and aluminum tray and feeder constructions. Copper-clad aluminum is reviewed when the tag identifies it clearly.
Utility and contractor lots often mix aluminum and copper on the same truck. Keep the reels separated and label each one; mixed metals on a single reel or coil are quoted as mixed material, which is a lower number.
Gauge, alloy and termination
Note the alloy if the legend prints it. AA-8000 series is the standard building wire alloy and is what most buyers expect; older EC-grade aluminum is a different conversation. The conductor size drives ampacity and value, so list every gauge separately.
Photograph the tag and the cut end. If the cable has been terminated, cut the lug off cleanly before photographing so the conductor is visible.
Constructions in this category
- XHHW-2 aluminum Cross-linked polyethylene, 90°C wet or dry; common feeder and service conductor.
- SER / SEU Service-entrance cable, often aluminum, with or without a bare neutral.
- URD / USE-2 Underground and direct-burial cable, frequently aluminum in utility work.
- Copper-clad aluminum Reviewed only when the legend identifies it; not the same as AA-8000.
Sizes we see most often
From #14 through 1000 MCM, in single-conductor and multi-conductor constructions. Mixed lots are welcome — list each size separately so the footage can be priced against the right gauge.
- #14
- #12
- #10
- #8
- #6
- #4
- #2
- #1
- 1/0
- 2/0
- 3/0
- 4/0
- 250
- 300
- 350
- 400
- 500
- 600
- 750
- 1000
What to include with your quote request
These details turn a question into a number. Anything you do not know can be estimated; say that it is an estimate.
- Conductor gauge or MCM and number of conductors
- Alloy or series if printed on the legend
- Construction (XHHW-2, SER, SEU, URD, USE-2, tray)
- Approximate footage per reel and reel count
- Photos of the tag and the cut conductor end
Not sure whether it is worth quoting?
Send it anyway. A short reel, an odd construction or a faded tag costs nothing to review, and the answer is usually more useful than the guess.
Is aluminum wire worth less than copper?
Per pound, yes; large aluminum feeders can still add up because the reels are heavy. Every lot is priced on its own metal, gauge and condition.
Do you buy aluminum URD from utility work?
Yes, when it is clean, coiled or reeled, and the gauge is known. Utility surplus often arrives in mixed lengths, so list each length group separately.
Related pages
Request a quote
Sell your aluminum wire
Send the details and photos for a purchase quote. The form goes to the same inbox as every other category, and the review starts as soon as it arrives.
Quote request — Aluminum Wire
Eight photos are enough for most lots. Tag, legend, cut end and a wide shot per reel.
Sell your surplus wire
Have a aluminum wire reel to move?
Send the details and photos. We will tell you what the material is worth and how a pickup would work.