Category 09 — Medium and high voltage
SELL MEDIUM AND HIGH-VOLTAGE CABLE
Medium-voltage cable is the highest-value surplus on most industrial sites and the least understood on a purchase order. Voltage class, insulation, shield and neutral construction all have to be read off the reel before a number means anything.
Voltage classes and insulation
We review 5kV, 8kV, 15kV, 25kV, 35kV and 69kV and above when available. EPR and XLPE insulation, shielded constructions with tape or wire shields, concentric-neutral cable for utility distribution, and jacketed or unjacketed designs.
Copper or aluminum conductors from 2 AWG through 1000 MCM and larger. Cable that has been in service, cable from a cancelled substation project, and factory-length reels from a distributor all belong in the same conversation.
The four facts that price MV cable
Voltage class, conductor size and metal, insulation type, and footage. Add the shield and neutral details and the picture is complete. Without those four, a quote is a guess, and guessed numbers do not survive a site visit.
Photograph the reel tag, the jacket print, and the cut end where the insulation, shield and neutral are visible. A tape measure across the cable helps confirm the insulation wall.
Constructions in this category
- 5kV and 8kV Industrial distribution and generator cable, EPR or XLPE, shielded.
- 15kV The most common medium-voltage class in plant and campus distribution.
- 25kV and 35kV Utility and substation feeder classes; concentric neutral common.
- 69kV and above Transmission-class cable, reviewed case by case when available.
- Concentric neutral Utility URD-style construction with a wire neutral over the shield.
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.
- Voltage class (5kV, 15kV, 25kV, 35kV, 69kV)
- Conductor size and metal
- Insulation type (EPR or XLPE) and shield construction
- Footage and reel count; factory length if still tagged
- Photos of the tag, jacket print and 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.
Questions
Medium & High Voltage questions
Category-specific answers, before you fill in the form.
Do you buy cable that has been in service?
Yes, with the understanding that in-service cable is evaluated on condition and usually needs a sample or a field check before a final number. Describe how it was stored and whether it was energized.
How much footage is worth quoting?
Short MV lengths are hard to use, but they are not worthless. Send what you have with the voltage class and size; we will tell you whether it stands alone or needs to be part of a larger lot.
What if only the voltage is known?
Send the voltage and the cut-end photo. Insulation wall thickness and shield type usually identify the class, and the conductor size can be measured.
Related pages
Request a quote
Sell your medium & high voltage
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 — Medium & High Voltage
Eight photos are enough for most lots. Tag, legend, cut end and a wide shot per reel.
Sell your surplus wire
Have a medium & high voltage reel to move?
Send the details and photos. We will tell you what the material is worth and how a pickup would work.