Sell Your THHN and THWN-2 Wire in California

We buy full spools, partial reels and leftover feeder lengths when you want to sell THHN wire in California. Our evaluation separates unused, identifiable THHN/THWN-2 inventory from pulled or damaged copper wire that belongs in the scrap category.

What THHN and THWN-2 markings actually mean

THHN stands for thermoplastic, high-heat-resistant, nylon-covered wire. Typical copper construction uses annealed copper, PVC insulation and a nylon outer covering. THWN identifies thermoplastic heat- and water-resistant nylon-covered wire; its -2 suffix denotes the applicable 90°C wet/dry rating.

THHN alone is rated for dry locations. The familiar dual-marked THHN/THWN-2 product carries 90°C wet and dry ratings and commonly has a 600 V rating. Do not add THWN-2 to an older reel's description unless that designation is present.

These are insulation temperature ratings, not a promise about breaker size or circuit ampacity. Terminal limits and other installation rules still matter. Our wire and cable catalog helps distinguish this single-conductor product from complete cable assemblies.

Sell THHN wire by gauge, color and put-up

Copper THHN/THWN-2 commonly spans 14 AWG through 1000 kcmil (MCM). Solid and stranded versions occur in smaller sizes; larger feeder conductors are usually stranded. The actual strand construction belongs in the inventory description.

These put-ups are examples rather than fixed lengths for each gauge. Original 2500 ft reels and larger packages occur, but size and manufacturer affect the package. Our pages for 14, 12 and 10 AWG stock and 8 through 1 AWG feeders cover those size groups.

Color is an inventory attribute worth recording. Black/red/blue commonly identifies 120/208 V system phases, while brown/orange/yellow commonly appears on 277/480 V systems. Those are conventions, not proof of voltage. White or gray identifies the grounded conductor, often called neutral; green identifies equipment grounding conductors.

Keep brown, orange, yellow and gray quantities separate on the list rather than calling them assorted colors. A partly depleted color set is different from several matching full spools.

Nylon surfaces, pulling variants and parallel reels

Low-friction and self-lubricating versions appear under manufacturer trade names, including SIMpull. Identify the actual brand and product number rather than assuming every shiny nylon surface has the same pulling properties. Cerrowire's THHN/THWN-2 specification documents self-lubricating technology for specified sizes.

Some project reels carry multiple single conductors in parallel. Record the count, gauge, color and remaining footage of every conductor on that reel. A shared reel does not turn those wires into one overall-jacketed multiconductor cable.

Preserve a parallel arrangement during evaluation when practical. Cutting it into separate short coils can remove useful length information and complicate matching a future requirement. Photos should show the whole reel arrangement as well as individual printed legends.

Capture enough jacket print to match the tag

Look for the manufacturer, THHN/THWN-2, gauge, CU, 600V and any additional designations. MTW, AWM, GR II, SUN RES or CT may also appear. Their permissions can depend on size and color, so a marking from one spool should not be assigned to every spool in the lot.

An illustrative description might read: manufacturer, THHN/THWN-2, 250 KCMIL, CU and 600V. That is only a screening example, not a substitute for a photo of your complete legend. Include the original package certification label where available.

We match that print against the tag's stock number, color, original length and reel identification. If wire has been rewound onto an old reel, say so. Our guide to reading wire reel tags explains why the old tag alone may describe the wrong contents.

California closeout wire and what preserves its value

Commercial tenant improvements often leave colored branch-circuit spools and unfinished feeder reels. Warehouse construction, equipment additions and distributor cut orders can produce larger remnants. These are typical sources of stock, not claims about any particular completed purchase.

For electrical-contractor surplus, separate untouched overbuy from wire that has already been pulled through conduit. Both may contain copper, but they have different condition histories. Mark scrapes, nylon damage, splices, corrosion and missing footage information plainly.

Reusable value depends on a useful continuous run, recognizable markings, condition, color demand and matching specifications. Many short offcuts do not become a single long run merely because their total footage matches a full spool. Gross reel weight also includes insulation and packaging, not only copper.

Aluminum THHN exists and must be identified as aluminum rather than priced as copper. Likewise, XHHW-2 feeder wire belongs on a separate line because its XLPE insulation differs from THHN's PVC/nylon system.

Photos and details for a THHN offer

• Close photos showing both THHN and THWN-2 when dual-marked, plus voltage and conductor size.
• Each spool's factory color, including neutral and grounding colors, listed separately.
• The original label with manufacturer, catalog number, length and package certification marks.
• Visible strand construction at an existing accessible end, or the label's solid/stranded description.
• Remaining footage for each continuous piece, with both endpoint marks if accessible.
• Parallel-reel conductor counts and individual lengths, including any unequal cuts or splices.
• Storage and condition notes distinguishing unused stock from pulled wire or damaged copper scrap.
• The California pickup city, reel count, available loading equipment and ownership paperwork.

Use those details on our offer request page. We provide the offer in writing before pickup and specify payment method and timing in writing. Covered scrap purchases follow California record and payment rules; this is a summary, not legal advice.