Sell 3/0 & 4/0 Wire in Ohio

You can sell 4/0 wire and 3/0 wire to Ohio Wire Buyers when it is reusable surplus owned by your business. We review full reels, partial reels, coils and usable cut lengths of copper or aluminum cable as product for resale—not scrap metal by the pound—and arrange pickup anywhere in Ohio after a written offer.

0100 FTWhat do 3/0 and 4/0 tell you about a surplus lot?

These are conductor sizes, not complete cable descriptions. Keep the slash when transcribing the marking: 3/0 is read as three-aught, and 4/0 as four-aught. A label shortened to “4 wire” can be mistaken for a different gauge or a conductor count.

The next questions are conductor metal, insulation type and construction. A black single conductor, a gray SER assembly and a flexible welding lead might carry the same conductor-size marking while serving different applications. Start with our wire sizes overview if the lot also includes smaller or larger gauges.

For assemblies, write down every conductor size from the tag. Do not label an entire SER cable simply “4/0 aluminum” if its neutral or grounding conductor differs. Preserve the manufacturer's full designation so the offer describes the actual product.

0200 FTWhat are the copper and aluminum ampacities?

The following values are from NEC Table 310.16, 2023 edition, as reproduced in HELUKABEL's NEC ampacity reference. They apply to the table's conditions: not more than three current-carrying conductors in raceway, cable or earth, at an ambient temperature of 30°C.

Terminations and conditions of use govern the actual rating. Ambient temperature, conductor grouping, equipment limits and applicable cable rules can change what an installation permits. The 90°C column is not an automatic permission to use that current at the terminals.

These figures help identify the material; they are not installation instructions or blanket ratings for welding leads and other flexible cables. Preserve the printed type designation rather than advertising a reel only by amperage.

0300 FTHow much does THHN weigh, and what reel lengths occur?

Southwire's product specifications distinguish copper weight from total insulated-wire weight. Both figures below are approximate manufacturer values per 1,000 feet, excluding the reel. They describe the listed SIMpull THHN/THWN-2 constructions, not every brand or cable bearing the same gauge.

Southwire lists those reel packaging options for both sizes. An original put-up is not proof of footage remaining after a pull. Keep the factory tag, but mark the reel as partial and provide the remaining length separately.

Do not use an insulated-wire weight as copper-only weight, or a THHN specification to estimate SER or DLO. If weighing a partial reel, the reel's tare weight and correct product specification matter; our remaining-footage guide explains the information to collect.

0400 FTIs 4/0 aluminum SER always a 200-amp cable?

No. The association with a 200-amp dwelling service does not make 4/0 aluminum a general-purpose 200-amp feeder. Table 310.16 shows 180 A in its 75°C aluminum column. Dwelling-service sizing provisions and other code rules must be evaluated separately.

The IAEI's explanation of 2023 NEC Section 310.12 emphasizes the entire-dwelling-load condition for its service and feeder provisions. A panel supplying only some dwelling loads does not qualify on that basis. Have the installation evaluated under the applicable rules rather than relying on a leftover reel's handwritten amperage label.

For resale, give us the complete SER or SEU cable identification. Southwire lists a SER construction with three insulated 4/0 conductors and a 2/0 bare grounding conductor. Photograph the assembly end so its configuration can be checked against the tag.

0500 FTWhich products need separate descriptions?

For 3/0 and 4/0 THHN/THWN-2 building wire, capture the manufacturer, color and complete insulation legend. Southwire's referenced product is copper with PVC insulation and a nylon sheath, rated 600 V. Its THWN-2 designation permits wet or dry locations at 90°C, subject to the manufacturer's conditions and installation limits.

Keep 4/0 welding cable separate from DLO flexible power cable. Flexibility alone does not establish interchangeable ratings. Southwire's referenced DLO uses tinned flexible copper, EPDM insulation and a CPE jacket; it is marked for 2,000 V and RHH/RHW-2 use. Record what your own cable says rather than assigning those ratings to every flexible lead.

For bare copper grounding conductor, show the strand construction and any original identification. With no insulation legend to photograph, a reel tag and purchase paperwork become particularly useful. Keep reusable lengths intact rather than chopping them into a metal bin.

0600 FTWhat makes partial reels and cut lengths reusable?

Continuous length matters more than an undifferentiated footage total. List each remnant individually and disclose splices, damaged sections or installed lugs. Matching colors and lengths can help describe a feeder set, but do not claim they are matched without checking each piece.

Show jacket cuts, flattened areas, exposed strands, heat discoloration and storage damage before pickup. For used cable, identify the previous application and how it was removed. Removal must be handled by qualified personnel with the equipment safely de-energized; a photo review is not an electrical acceptance test.

Leave tags attached and avoid stripping insulation to demonstrate copper content. Read our surplus-product versus scrap-value guide before changing the material. If the cable is not reusable, we say so, and a scrap metal recycler may be the right buyer.

0700 FTHow do you sell 4/0 wire with enough detail for an offer?

Send an overview of the whole lot, followed by photos and a footage list that connect each reel or coil to its description. Our reel-tag reading guide helps distinguish factory footage from handwritten remaining footage.

Include these details:

• Single conductors: Size, copper or aluminum, color, complete printed ratings, manufacturer and each continuous length.
• SER assemblies: Full conductor-size sequence, assembly-end photo and readable outer-jacket print.
• Flexible leads: Welding or DLO markings, length of each piece, lug photos and disclosed service history.
• Bare copper: Tag, strand close-up, continuous footage and visible damage.

Label footage as measured, estimated or unknown. Add your business name, material location and ownership documentation, such as an invoice, purchase order, closeout paperwork or company letter. We verify the seller and ownership and retain a written purchase record.

0800 FTHow is pickup arranged for an Ohio lot?

Ohio Wire Buyers reviews the information and replies with questions or a written offer before pickup. Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup, and the count is checked against the written terms. The selling process explains those steps.

Tell us whether the lot sits at a jobsite, warehouse, plant or yard, along with loading access, available handling equipment and damaged reels. We arrange pickup anywhere in Ohio and have no Ohio street address, office or yard. Sellers cannot bring material to us.

To have your identified reels or cut lengths reviewed, request an offer for your surplus wire or call 951-403-5738. Keep the material intact while we review its type, footage and condition.