Ohio Wire Buyers buys reusable surplus UF-B underground feeder cable from businesses anywhere in Ohio, including unused coils, partial spools and usable cut lengths. To sell UF-B cable, send photographs of the jacket print, package labels, cut ends and whole lot with a footage list or estimate; we review the material and provide a written offer before arranging pickup.
What identifies UF-B underground feeder cable?
UF-B means underground feeder and branch-circuit cable. The Southwire, Cerrowire and Encore products referenced here are copper cables rated for 600-volt applications and permitted for direct burial under applicable installation requirements. Southwire and Cerrowire identify UL 493 as the cable's product standard.
The construction is distinctive: a gray PVC jacket surrounds the insulated circuit conductors and bare equipment grounding conductor. Cerrowire describes the jacket as applied over and around those conductors, rather than simply forming a loose sleeve. An existing cut end can help show that closely molded construction without stripping a good length.
Read the printed type designation, not just the color. Gray cable can belong to other families, and a warehouse label saying “underground wire” is not enough. Use our guide to reading cable jacket print when the legend is unfamiliar. UF-B is one category within the wire and cable we buy, not a name for every cable that can go underground.
Which sizes and conductor counts should you list?
Keep gauge, insulated conductor count and grounding conductor information together. For example, 12/2 with ground identifies two insulated circuit conductors of 12 AWG plus a grounding conductor. Do not count the bare ground as another insulated conductor when describing a lot.
The following constructions appear in Cerrowire's CerroMax UF-B specification. They are identification examples, not circuit-sizing recommendations.
| Cable designation, with ground | Insulated circuit conductors | Circuit conductor construction |
|---|---|---|
| 14/2 or 14/3 | Two or three, 14 AWG | Solid copper |
| 12/2 or 12/3 | Two or three, 12 AWG | Solid copper |
| 10/2 or 10/3 | Two or three, 10 AWG | Solid copper |
| 8/2 or 8/3 | Two or three, 8 AWG | Stranded copper |
| 6/2 or 6/3 | Two or three, 6 AWG | Stranded copper |
Record the ground size from the actual label or specification, especially on larger cable. Do not assume it always matches the circuit conductors. Keep different constructions on separate inventory lines, even when their jackets look alike.
Is UF-B interchangeable with NM-B or wire in conduit?
No. Similar gauge numbers do not make these products interchangeable. Southwire's NM-B specification limits that product to dry locations, while its UF-B information permits underground use, including direct burial. A manufacturer's sunlight-resistance statement also does not establish that damaged cable remains suitable for reuse.
| Material in your surplus lot | Product distinction | What to preserve for identification |
|---|---|---|
| UF-B cable | Complete underground feeder cable assembly; direct burial permitted under applicable requirements | UF-B legend, conductor count and jacket condition |
| NM-B cable | Nonmetallic-sheathed building cable intended for dry locations | NM-B legend and original package label |
| THHN/THWN-2 individual wire | Separate building conductors; THWN-2 marking establishes wet-location rating | Individual wire markings, colors and footage |
Separate surplus NM-B cable from underground feeder stock before photographing it. If a project changed to a raceway system, list leftover THHN/THWN-2 building wire independently rather than combining everything as “feeder wire.”
Why does the original application matter?
Manufacturer examples include outside lamps, pumps, motors and electric gates. Southwire also describes permitted interior branch-circuit uses in residential and agricultural buildings. That makes the installation history useful when a contractor submits leftovers from an outbuilding, a farm facility or outdoor lighting work.
Tell us whether the cable was never installed, pulled back out before completion, or removed from service. “Left over from a pump job” could describe either an untouched coil or cable recovered from a trench; those are materially different situations. For used material, disclose repairs, splices, excavation damage and any available inspection or test records.
Do not choose a new circuit rating from the jacket's temperature marking. Southwire and Cerrowire describe insulation temperature capability separately from an ampacity limitation based on 60°C conductors. Terminations and conditions of use govern the actual rating; the receiving electrician must establish suitability for the intended installation.
What condition supports resale rather than scrap?
Preserve complete, continuous lengths with readable markings and intact insulation. Photograph crushed sections, deep scrapes, exposed copper, severe kinks and repaired areas instead of hiding them beneath a coil. A direct-burial rating is an application rating, not a guarantee against damage during digging, removal or storage.
Do not cut a continuous length into smaller pieces just to make it easier to lift. Keep the wrapper, spool label or carton with the cable it identifies. If a damaged section has already been removed, describe the resulting separate lengths rather than reporting their combined footage as one run.
We buy cable for resale and reuse, not metal recovery. Our surplus value versus scrap guide explains why product identity and usable footage matter. If a lot is not reusable, we say so; a scrap metal recycler may be the appropriate buyer.
How should you report coils, spools and remaining footage?
Southwire's UF-B product selector lists 50-, 100- and 250-foot coils, along with 1,000-foot spools and other packaging options. Describe the package actually present; do not call every factory put-up a coil or infer its length from its diameter. Available packaging varies by product selection.
An original package length is not the remaining length after a job. Mark each inventory entry as unopened factory quantity, measured footage or estimated footage. If sequential length marks are present, photograph readable marks at the accessible ends and note whether the run is uninterrupted.
For uncertain partial spools, see methods for measuring wire left on a reel. Leave a tightly wound package intact if unwinding it would create tangles or damage. An honest estimate with clear photos is more useful than an unsupported exact count.
What UF-B details should you send for an offer?
Send a whole-lot view, the label for each different package, a readable UF-B legend and existing cut-end photos. Include close-ups of damage. Our wire photography guide covers framing, but this material especially needs the complete size-and-conductor designation visible.
Your footage list should identify manufacturer, cable designation, ground information, package count and remaining length per package. State whether each item is unused or previously installed. Tie photos to inventory lines so similar gray coils cannot be confused. For Southwire surplus cable, retain the catalog number as well as the type designation.
Provide your business name, pickup location and ownership documentation, such as an invoice, purchase order, closeout paperwork or company letter. We verify the seller and proof of ownership and keep a written record of each purchase. Unknown footage or missing labels should be disclosed rather than replaced with guesses.
How do you sell UF-B cable from an Ohio business?
After reviewing the lot, we reply with questions or a written offer before pickup. Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup. We arrange collection at your Ohio jobsite, warehouse, plant or yard and check the count against the written terms; the selling process explains those steps.
Tell us about access and available loading equipment while the material is still organized. Ohio Wire Buyers has no Ohio street address, office or yard and does not accept deliveries in Ohio, so do not plan to deliver coils to a local counter.
Ready to sell UF-B cable? Request an offer for your underground feeder lot with labels, condition photos and footage, or call 951-403-5738 to discuss the material.
Frequently asked questions
Is UF-B the same as low-voltage outdoor lighting wire?
No. UF-B is an underground feeder and branch-circuit cable; the manufacturer products discussed here are rated 600 volts. A cable being used outdoors does not establish its type. Photograph the printed designation and packaging label so we can distinguish UF-B from other outdoor wiring products before evaluating your surplus.
Can I sell a UF-B coil after opening the wrapper?
An opened coil can still be considered if the cable remains reusable. Keep the original label, report whether any cable was removed, and photograph the outer turns and exposed ends. Factory footage on an opened package is not proof of remaining footage, so identify the length as measured or estimated.
Should I strip the gray jacket before selling underground feeder cable?
Do not strip reusable cable to prepare it for a product offer. Its intact jacket, conductor insulation and readable markings help establish what it is and whether it can be reused. Ohio Wire Buyers buys reusable cable as product, not scrap by the pound. Damaged material may belong with a scrap metal recycler instead.
Does a UF-B marking prove previously buried cable is reusable?
No. The designation identifies the cable type, not its present condition. Previously buried material needs a clear removal history and disclosure of damage, repairs and any available inspection or test records. We consider used cable only when it remains reusable; a photograph or readable label alone does not establish electrical suitability.
Can Ohio Wire Buyers pick up UF-B at my business?
We arrange pickup at the seller's jobsite, warehouse, plant or yard anywhere in Ohio. Send the lot details and location first. We review the material and provide a written offer before pickup, with payment method and timing confirmed in writing. Ohio Wire Buyers has no Ohio street address or yard and does not accept deliveries in Ohio.