Category 02 — Armored cable
SELL SURPLUS MC AND AC CABLE
Armored cable arrives on a jobsite in coils and leaves in shorter coils. If a Denver project changed scope after the wire pull, the leftover MC or AC is usually still banded, still labelled, and still worth quoting.
Armored cable we review
Metal-clad and armored cable in aluminum or steel armor: MC, AC, HCF and health-care-grade versions, with copper conductors in the usual 14 to 2 AWG branch sizes and larger feeder constructions. Two-, three- and four-conductor coils, with or without a separate grounding conductor, are all standard submissions.
Interlocked armor hides the conductor, so the print legend on the armor tape and the end cut are what we price from. Photograph the legend where it is printed along the armor, then stand the coil on edge and photograph the cut conductors so the count and gauge are visible.
Condition and packaging
Factory coils with the original band and label are the simplest to quote. Opened coils with a clean cut end and a legible legend are also routine. Cable that has been dragged, kinked, or stored outdoors long enough to corrode the armor is reviewed as-is, and we will tell you plainly if the condition changes the number.
Send the coil count and an approximate length per coil. If the coil was cut on site, the electrician usually knows roughly what was pulled; that estimate is enough to start.
Constructions in this category
- MC cable Metal-clad, usually aluminum armor with copper THHN/THWN conductors and a grounding path.
- AC cable Armored cable with a bonding strip; common in older commercial and multifamily work.
- HCF / health care Reduced smoke and flame spread constructions for health-care occupancies.
- Steel vs aluminum armor Both are reviewed; note the armor metal if the legend does not say.
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 size and count in each coil, for example 12/2 or 10/3
- Armor type (aluminum or steel) and MC vs AC vs HCF
- Approximate length per coil and number of coils
- Whether the coil is factory banded or opened
- A photo of the print legend along the armor and one of the cut 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.
Can you price cable with no label left?
Sometimes. Send the cut-end photo, the armor type and the outside diameter. If the conductor gauge and count can be read from the cut, we can usually identify the construction.
Do you take short cut lengths?
Yes, though very short pieces are reviewed individually. Coils under ten feet are usually grouped with a larger lot rather than quoted alone.
Related pages
Request a quote
Sell your mc & ac cable
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 — MC & AC Cable
Eight photos are enough for most lots. Tag, legend, cut end and a wide shot per reel.
Sell your surplus wire
Have a mc & ac cable reel to move?
Send the details and photos. We will tell you what the material is worth and how a pickup would work.