Industrial Feeder Cable Buyers in Pennsylvania
Large feeder cable from Pennsylvania plants and mills, bought on conductor size, insulation and reel condition.
Industrial feeder cable is the heavy conductor that carries power from a service or a switchboard to a distribution point, and from there to a motor control center or a large load. In practice it means 1/0 through 1000 kcmil copper or aluminum, insulated with XHHW-2 or RHW-2 for 600 V work, or shielded for medium voltage, installed in tray, conduit or a wireway. The size is what defines the category rather than a single product listing.
Pennsylvania's plants, mills and food processors replace feeders during expansions, equipment changes and service upgrades, and the old cable often comes out in usable lengths. Large feeders are also the most valuable wire in a plant store on a per foot basis, so a reel that has been sitting for years is worth a proper review rather than a quick estimate. Large feeders are also the most valuable wire in a plant store on a per foot basis, so a reel that has been sitting for years deserves a proper review.
| Construction | Single or multiconductor cable, jacketed or armored, sized for feeder and service duty |
|---|---|
| Conductors | Copper or aluminum from 1/0 through 1000 kcmil, with 500 and 750 kcmil common in plant work |
| Insulation | XHHW-2, RHW-2 or THWN-2 for 600 V; EPR or XLPE with shields above 2 kV |
| Voltage and temperature | 600 V for low voltage feeders, 5 kV to 15 kV for medium voltage; 90 C dry and 75 C wet typical |
| Standards | UL 44 for XHHW-2 and RHW-2, UL 1072 above 2 kV, and NEC Article 310 for ampacity |
What industrial feeder cable is
The term describes a role rather than a listing. A feeder is any conductor between the service equipment and the final branch circuit protection, and in an industrial setting that usually means large conductors carrying hundreds of amps. The cable may be single conductor XHHW-2 pulled in conduit, a multiconductor tray cable, or a shielded medium voltage construction, depending on the distance and the voltage.
That range is why a seller should describe the material rather than the label. A reel of 500 kcmil XHHW-2 single conductor and a reel of 15 kV shielded cable are both feeder cable, and they are worth very different amounts. Conductor size, metal, insulation type and voltage class are the four facts that let a buyer price a lot.
- 1/0 through 1000 kcmil in copper or aluminum
- Single conductor or multiconductor constructions
- Low voltage or medium voltage
- Installed in tray, conduit or wireway
Where Pennsylvania sellers use feeder cable
Plant expansions are the main source. A new line needs a feeder from the switchboard, the electrician orders 500 kcmil copper, and the balance of the reel stays in the warehouse. Service upgrades produce the same result on the utility side of the meter. Food plants, machine shops, paper mills and water authorities all run large feeders and all keep the leftovers.
Contractors working on hospital and data center infrastructure also hold feeder cable, since a chiller or a UPS system needs a large feed. Removed cable is common during changeovers, and while it is worth less than new stock, large copper conductors retain substantial value even after years in a conduit.
What makes feeder cable resellable
Metal and size drive everything. Copper 500 kcmil and 750 kcmil feeders carry the highest value per foot, and even a 60 ft length is worth quoting carefully. Aluminum in the same sizes is worth less but still substantial. Smaller feeders in 1/0 through 4/0 are easier to place because more contractors can use them.
Insulation condition and documentation decide whether a reel sells as cable or as scrap. A sealed reel with the factory tag, legible print and clean ends can be installed. A reel with damaged insulation, water inside the jacket or unknown history is valued on copper content, and we say which category applies before quoting.
- 500 and 750 kcmil copper reels
- Sealed factory reels with tags
- 4/0 and 3/0 copper feeders
- Medium voltage feeder cable with intact shields
Condition, storage and identification
Large cable is heavy and usually stored on a wooden reel that may be past its useful life. A reel with a broken flange cannot be pulled safely, and the cable often has to be rewound before it can be sold. Jacket damage from forklift forks is common, and a crushed section on a 750 kcmil cable means cutting back several feet.
Identification is printed on the jacket or, for single conductors, on the insulation. Reel tags are the best evidence of size and footage. Where both are missing, the conductor diameter and strand pattern let an experienced buyer estimate the size within one standard step, which is usually enough to quote.
What to send for a quote
Send the reel tag, a photo of the print and a photo of the cut end with the strands visible. Give the size, metal and approximate footage for each reel, and note whether it is single conductor or multiconductor. For medium voltage cable, add a stripped end photo that shows the shield layers.
The lot is reviewed and quoted, with pickup scheduled after acceptance. Feeder reels are the heaviest material we handle, so tell us the reel diameter, the weight if marked, the ground surface and whether a forklift or crane is available at the site.
- Reel tag and jacket print
- Cut end with strands visible
- Size, metal and footage
- Single or multiconductor
- Reel weight, surface and loading equipment
What we buy in this category
- 500 and 750 kcmil copper feeder reels
- 4/0 and 3/0 copper feeders in long lengths
- Aluminum feeders from 250 through 1000 kcmil
- Medium voltage feeder cable with shields
- Factory sealed reels with printed footage
- Removed feeders from plant changeovers
- XHHW-2 and RHW-2 single conductors
- Partial reels over 50 ft in large sizes
Selling industrial feeder cable in Pennsylvania
Reels of industrial feeder cable turn up from Philadelphia and the southeastern counties through the Lehigh Valley, and from Pittsburgh and the Mon Valley across to Harrisburg, Lancaster and York. Send the city or township with the photographs so pickup can be planned realistically.
Industrial Feeder Cable questions
What size counts as feeder cable?
There is no fixed threshold, but in practice the term covers 1/0 and larger conductors used between service equipment and distribution points. Smaller branch wiring is usually described by its type instead. Smaller branch wiring is usually described by its type instead, which is why we ask for the print rather than the label.
Do you buy removed feeder cable?
Yes. Cable pulled from a conduit or tray is reviewed for jacket damage and moisture. Large copper conductors keep much of their value even when they cannot be reinstalled, so we quote both the cable value and the recovery value.
How is medium voltage feeder cable priced?
On voltage class, conductor size and shield condition. A reel with an intact insulation shield and sealed ends is worth considerably more than one with a damaged jacket, which is treated as salvage. A reel with an intact insulation shield and sealed ends is worth considerably more than one with a damaged jacket.
Can you handle a 750 kcmil reel?
Yes, with the right equipment. These reels can weigh several thousand pounds, so we ask about access, ground surface and whether a forklift or crane truck can reach the reel before scheduling. These reels can weigh several thousand pounds, so we ask about access before scheduling a truck.
Other wire and cable we buy
Shielded Power Cable
Sell surplus shielded power cable in Pennsylvania.
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Buying detailsMedium Voltage Cable
Sell surplus medium voltage cable in Pennsylvania.
Buying detailsHave surplus wire on the floor right now?
Send photographs of the reels, tags and jacket print. We will tell you what the material is worth as wire, not just as metal.