We buy surplus MV reels from California projects, including unused full reels, partial lengths, and copper cable for scrap evaluation. If you need to sell medium voltage cable, start with its complete print legend and the condition of both ends. Those details tell us more than reel weight alone.
Sell medium voltage cable by its complete construction
MV cable supplies campus distribution, substations, industrial facilities, and renewable-energy collection systems. Common classes include 5kV, 15kV, 25kV, and 35kV. An MV-90 or MV-105 designation is separate from that voltage class.
A typical shielded construction has a copper or aluminum conductor, semiconducting screens, insulation, metallic shielding, and an outer jacket. EPR means ethylene-propylene rubber. TR-XLPE is tree-retardant cross-linked polyethylene; ordinary XLPE is another construction you may encounter.
Common surplus sizes include 1/0 and 4/0, followed by 250, 350, 500, 750, and 1000 kcmil (MCM). Smaller sizes exist in some voltage classes, so we do not reject an identification simply because it falls outside that common range. Keep the exact size rather than rounding it to a familiar feeder size.
MV is one family within the wire and cable types we buy. Large conductor size alone does not make ordinary feeder wire medium voltage.
Voltage, insulation level, and shield are separate fields
Two reels labeled 15kV can still be different products. The insulation percentage, insulation compound, wall thickness, and shielding all affect the specification a future buyer needs.
| Field on the record | Examples to capture | Why the distinction matters |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage class | 5kV, 15kV, 25kV, 35kV | Identifies a separate cable class |
| Insulation level | 100%, 133%, 173% | Relates to system grounding and fault-clearing conditions |
| Insulation | EPR, XLPE, TR-XLPE | Distinguishes the insulating construction |
| Metallic layer | Copper tape or concentric neutral | Shield and neutral designs are not interchangeable |
| Outer jacket | PVC, LLDPE, other specified compound | Helps identify the exact product |
The percentage is not a multiplier for continuous operating voltage. A 15kV, 133% cable does not become a 19.95kV cable by arithmetic. Okonite's insulation-level reference explains the categories and their relationship to fault exposure.
Copper tape shielding differs from helically applied concentric neutral wires. A concentric neutral may have full, one-third, or another specified capacity. An aluminum main conductor can therefore coexist with substantial copper neutral material; photograph the construction instead of calling the whole cable copper.
Read the full legend before grouping reels
We need the manufacturer, actual MV designation, voltage, size, conductor metal, insulation level, and compound. Include insulation thickness in mils, shield or neutral description, jacket, manufacturing date, and footage when available. Copy the print in full if several photos are needed.
Also identify the supplied listing. A utility distribution specification does not automatically establish a UL 1072 MV listing on every reel. Do not add a listing from a related catalog product when the original records do not support it.
Describe the package as separate single conductors, a triplexed set, or another assembly, using the tag's wording. State the length of each cable or set. Our large kcmil conductor page helps separate conductor size from finished cable diameter and assembly weight.
Where California MV surplus comes from
Design revisions and unused collection runs can leave MV inventory at solar project closeouts. These lots may include several reels with the same construction but different remaining lengths. Keep each reel number tied to its own footage.
Campus distribution changes and data-center construction surplus can produce copper or aluminum MV cable. Maintenance spares, cancelled capital work, and storeroom cleanouts are other sources at plants and large facilities. These are possible sources, not claims about specific projects we have bought.
For plant and utility contractor inventory, establish who owns the cable before arranging disposal. Covered agency-owned or formerly agency-owned material requires the applicable written certification on agency letterhead. A contractor invoice does not automatically replace that certification; this is a legal summary, not legal advice.
Why sealed ends and traceability affect the offer
Documented MV inventory can retain manufacturing and product value beyond its recoverable metal. That potential depends on an exact specification match and credible condition records. A specialty reel is not automatically more marketable just because its original construction was expensive.
We consider whether it is unused, previously pulled, rewound, damaged, or exposed to moisture. Intact end seals, protected storage, original identification, manufacturing date, and factory test reports help us assess uncertainty. Age by itself does not establish failure, remaining life, or an expiration date.
Continuous footage is another major factor. Several disconnected lengths do not equal one usable run with the same total footage. Where copper material cannot be considered for reuse, we can assess scrap separately; jacket and reel weight are not copper weight.
What to send us for an MV offer
Build the description around each reel, not just the total lot weight:
- A readable original tag showing product number, reel ID, manufacturing date, and listed length.
- Overlapping photos covering the entire cable legend, including voltage and insulation percentage.
- Separate close-ups of both end caps or seals, without removing intact seals for photography.
- The conductor metal, nominal size, and tape-shield or concentric-neutral construction from the records.
- Endpoint footage marks where accessible, plus a note identifying rewinding, cuts, or splices.
- Factory test reports or later inspection records matched to the applicable reel or production lot.
- Storage history, including outdoor exposure, water contact, jacket damage, and previously installed lengths.
- California pickup city, reel dimensions, gross weight if known, loading access, and ownership documents.
We provide the offer in writing before pickup, with payment method and timing confirmed in writing as well. Uncertain footage or unexplained water exposure should be disclosed with the initial photos.
Keep heavy MV reels intact for collection
MV put-ups are usually engineered continuous lengths on wooden or steel reels. Examples of 500, 1000, or 2500 feet exist, but there is no universal MV reel footage. Cable diameter, bend requirements, and gross weight determine the package.
Leave original tags attached and preserve the end protection. Report damaged flanges, barrel damage, and any returnable steel-reel ownership before loading is planned. Our wire reel buying guide covers the packaging details that help coordinate handling.
We arrange MV cable pickup from substations, plants and job sites within California. Buyers and end users must verify the cable's condition, listing, and suitability for their intended use; a surplus offer is not installation approval.
Common questions
Does MV-105 mean the cable is rated 105kV?
No. MV-105 identifies the applicable 105°C conductor operating temperature, not a 105kV voltage class. MV-90 similarly refers to 90°C. We need the separate voltage marking, such as 15000 VOLTS, along with insulation level and construction. Temperature alone also does not establish ampacity or make a reel suitable for a particular distribution system.
Will missing end caps rule out an MV reel?
Missing caps raise a moisture question, but a photo alone cannot establish the cable's internal condition. Tell us when the ends were exposed, where the reel stood, and whether water reached it. Include any inspection or test records. We evaluate those details before deciding whether to consider reusable inventory or recoverable metal; we do not assume a clean jacket proves dry insulation.
Can a factory test report replace the reel tag?
A report helps only when we can connect it to the material offered. Match its manufacturer, cable description, lot or reel number, and footage to the reel and cable print. If the original tag is gone, send every remaining identifier. Factory testing documents production condition; it does not prove that later storage, handling, or service caused no damage.