Ohio Wire Buyers buys reusable surplus electrical wire and cable in AWG and kcmil sizes from Ohio businesses, including full reels, partial reels, boxed coils and usable cut lengths. The wire sizes below help you identify your lot; conductor metal, insulation type, footage and condition are needed for a written offer before pickup.
How do AWG wire sizes progress?
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge. Within the numbered AWG sequence, a smaller number means a larger conductor: 8 AWG is larger than 12 AWG, and 2 AWG is larger than 6 AWG. The number describes the conductor, not the outside diameter of an insulated wire or armored cable.
After 1 AWG, the sequence continues through 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0, increasing in conductor area. These are commonly spoken as “one aught” through “four aught.” Keep the slash when transcribing a tag: 1 AWG and 1/0 AWG are different sizes, not alternate spellings.
Is MCM the same as kcmil?
MCM and kcmil both mean thousands of circular mils. A circular mil is the area of a circle with a diameter of one mil, or one-thousandth of an inch; IHI Connectors' sizing reference explains both abbreviations. Thus, 500 MCM and 500 kcmil describe the same nominal conductor area.
Unlike numbered AWG, larger kcmil numbers mean larger conductors. Copy size markings separately from footage and voltage. If a tag uses square millimeters, preserve that unit: Southwire's technical reference cautions that a closest metric size is not an automatic specification equivalent.
Which size group matches your surplus?
This overview organizes size pages, not permissible breaker ratings. Southwire lists copper THHN/THWN-2 and aluminum XHHW-2 for services, feeders and branch circuits, subject to applicable requirements. Cerrowire lists small-gauge MC for power, lighting and branch circuits.
| Size group and detailed guide | Typical product or application context | Useful detail for an offer |
|---|---|---|
| 14 and 12 AWG wire | Branch-circuit building wire and MC cable | Solid or stranded; single conductor or assembly |
| 10 and 8 AWG wire | Building wire for power circuits; MC available in 10 AWG | Full insulation designation and conductor count |
| 6 and 4 AWG wire | Copper or aluminum building-wire feeders | Conductor metal and usable length |
| 3, 2 and 1 AWG wire | Feeder conductors selected for the application | Exact gauge rather than a visual estimate |
| 1/0 and 2/0 wire | Larger building-wire feeders | Preserve the slash-zero size notation |
| 3/0 and 4/0 wire | Service and feeder conductors | Copper versus aluminum; separate lengths |
| 250 and 300 MCM wire | Large THHN/THWN-2 or XHHW-2 feeders | Size, insulation type and footage per reel |
| 350 and 400 MCM wire | Copper or aluminum feeder inventory | List each size separately |
| 500 MCM wire | Large feeder conductors | Continuous length and reel condition |
| 600, 750 and 1000 MCM wire | Larger service and feeder conductors | Reel weight information and loading access |
Why does size alone not establish resale value?
A recognizable size helps match surplus to another job, but it does not guarantee an offer or quick resale. Branch-circuit material such as 12 AWG and large feeders such as 500 kcmil serve different needs. Usefulness depends on the complete specification, remaining length and condition.
Keep copper separate from aluminum and THHN separate from XHHW-2. Equal size markings do not make different conductor materials or insulation systems substitutes. Our wire and cable overview helps identify the product family before you organize the gauges.
Packaging matters too. An identifiable continuous length offers different reuse possibilities than disconnected pieces totaling the same footage. Report damaged insulation, splices or missing tags rather than including everything under a single clean inventory description.
Can you identify gauge from outside diameter?
Outside diameter alone is not reliable product identification. Manufacturer tables distinguish conductor diameter from finished diameter because insulation adds thickness; conductor construction also matters. Southwire's aluminum XHHW-2 specification, for example, describes compact-stranded conductors, while an MC assembly adds armor around its insulated wires.
Start with the jacket legend and reel tag. Photograph the existing cut end to show the metal and construction, without stripping usable cable just to estimate its gauge.
What should you send for a size-specific offer?
Make a separate inventory line for each size, conductor metal, insulation type and color. Include the manufacturer or catalog number when readable, whether the material is unused or previously installed, and the remaining footage or an explicitly labeled estimate. For multiconductor cable, include conductor count and any separately marked ground size.
Photograph the whole lot, each reel tag, readable jacket print and existing cut ends. On partial reels, distinguish the original factory footage from what remains. Identify separate pieces individually instead of presenting their combined footage as one continuous run.
Send proof of ownership, such as an invoice, purchase order, closeout paperwork or company letter. Ohio Wire Buyers verifies the seller and ownership and keeps a written purchase record. We review the information and reply with questions or a written offer before pickup.
How do you keep large reels ready for pickup?
Leave reusable wire intact and keep its identification attached. Do not divide a large feeder reel into shorter pieces simply to make it easier to move. Tell us about damaged flanges, available loading equipment and whether the reels sit at a dock or in a yard.
Weight information should identify its basis. Southwire lists approximate total wire weight for its 500 kcmil copper THHN/THWN-2 construction as 1,662 pounds per 1,000 feet, excluding the reel. That specification is not a scale weight for your partial reel or for another cable construction.
Ohio Wire Buyers arranges pickup anywhere in Ohio at the seller's jobsite, warehouse, plant or yard; we have no Ohio street address or yard. Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing before pickup, and the count is checked against the written terms.
Ready to identify your surplus? Send the size markings, footage list and photos through our surplus wire offer form, or call 951-403-5738. If the material is not reusable, we will say so; a scrap metal recycler may then be the right buyer.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy copper and aluminum wire in the same gauge?
Yes. Ohio Wire Buyers reviews reusable surplus copper and aluminum wire, but they should be listed separately even when the size markings match. Include the conductor metal, insulation designation and footage for each reel. Equal AWG or kcmil markings do not make copper and aluminum products interchangeable for an installation or establish equal resale value.
Is there a minimum cut length you will buy?
Send the actual lengths and product details rather than cutting everything to a uniform length. Whether a piece is reusable depends on its type, condition and suitability for another application. Ohio Wire Buyers reviews usable cut lengths along with reels and coils; size alone does not establish whether a particular piece can be bought for reuse.
Can I sell a reel if its gauge marking is unreadable?
You can send photos for review, but do not present an estimated gauge as a confirmed size. Look for an intact reel tag, another readable section of jacket print, or purchase paperwork identifying the product. Photograph the existing cut end as well. Ohio Wire Buyers may ask for more identification before providing a written offer.
Should I strip large feeder wire before selling it?
Do not strip reusable insulated feeder wire to prepare it for a product offer. Its insulation, jacket markings and continuous usable length are part of what identifies it for resale and reuse. Send photos before altering the lot. If the cable is not reusable, Ohio Wire Buyers will say so, and a scrap metal recycler may be the right buyer.