Of all of the grades of recycled steel at steel scrap yard close to me, insulated copper wire is among the most complicated and interpretive commodities. We frequently know good wire once we see and really feel it, however coaching internally and speaking high quality variations to prospects can typically be difficult.
At its most simple degree, with only a few exceptions, insulated wire solely exists in significance primarily based on the content material of the copper within the wire. Copper is a reasonably dense materials; any electrician that runs wire for lengths will let you know how heavy it may be!
The bend check is a quite simple method to inform in case your wire is excessive or low grade. If there’s a stiffness to the bend, it’s most likely #1 insulated copper wire. Whether it is gentle and doesn’t have a lot resistance or rolls very simply right into a ball, the copper content material can be very low and therefore have low pricing worth.
What’s copper wire scrap?
We’re proud members of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) www.isri.org and the affiliation has a complete round with specs for each recyclable materials conceivable! Right here is how that publication defines Insulated Copper Wire Scrap:
Insulated Copper wire scrap shall encompass No. 1 naked, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire (see Barley), not smaller than No. 16 B & S wire gauge (until a smaller wire gauge is mutually agreed upon), with numerous kinds of insulation. To be bought on a pattern or restoration foundation, topic to settlement between purchaser and vendor.
ISRI Definition of Insulated Copper Wire Scrap
The final a part of that description explains why the pricing and high quality management are so tough on this merchandise—there are such a lot of kinds of wire, and the worth is solely primarily based on copper restoration—a restoration that isn’t apparent attributable to it being shielded by rubber.
How one can learn how a lot your wire is price
While you go to us at our scrapyard in Columbia, PA, we are going to purchase #1 copper wire, #2 copper wire, or communications wire. In actuality, there are numerous classes and classifications. When you can strip the wire your self and create both naked brite copper wire (single strand no “hair” wire, all vivid orange), then you’ll be able to improve the value you’ll get. As a tip, the warmer the insulation, the better it’s to come back off–summertime solar does marvel! A daily utility knife or nailing it on the wall and stripping with a knife works–at our facility, we’ve got a machine that can put a strip via the wire, and we then return and peel off the insulation–no matter makes it simpler for you!
Wanting stripping the wire, here’s a primary prioritization of wire by worth:
- Thick, normally black however typically yellow, orange, or brown MCM cable. It’s simple to strip, and the copper content material is all orange.
- Coded THNN wire, normally waxy insulation not boring, 80% plus copper content material all orange.
- Romex orange, yellow and white wire low to mid 60% restoration all orange strands with interior wrappings. (Gummy exterior rubber just isn’t included on this class)
- Thick copper plated with a gray coloration, skinny hair wire, welding lead, and extension cords are all within the #2 insulated wire class.
- Communications and information wire, phone wire.
- Very low-grade speaker wire, adapter wire, all with out ends
Any merchandise with much less copper or further attachments and ends has an excessive amount of noncopper content material to be something however lite iron priced. Examples embrace CATV wire, Christmas lights, and different low-grade copper gadgets.
Wire Classifications
The next is a listing of our distributors’ classifications that provides you with a complete itemizing of the wire varieties.
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 90% and above. #1 wire have to be unplated, simply naked copper.
Electrician Code: 250 MCM & Above
NO BRASS OR TIN PLATE CONNECTORS!
ICW #1 85% Insulated Copper Wire #1 85%
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 85%. #1 wire have to be unplated simply naked copper.
Electrician Code: 4 Gauge to 4 OTT
NO BRASS OR TIN PLATE CONNECTORS!
ICW #1 80% Insulated Copper Wire #1 80%
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 80%. #1 wire have to be unplated simply naked copper.
Electrician Code: THHN As much as 4 Gauge.
NO BRASS OR TIN PLATE CONNECTORS!
NO ALARM CABLE IS ROMEX
ROMEX Insulated Copper Wire #1 65%
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 65%. #1 wire have to be unplated, simply naked copper. Electrician Code: ROMEX
Double Wrapped Wire Insulated Copper Wire #2 75%
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 75% is plated with tin.
Thick Gauge.
Wire From AC Models Icw #2 55%
Insulated Copper Wire that recovers 55% is plated with tin. Double insulated.
Communication Wire
Similar as cat 5 and 6, typical phone wire.
Low-Grade Wire & Extention Cords
Family wires. Extension Cords. NO ADAPTERS or heavy connectors
The images above comprehensively record the higher variations of #1 and #2 insulated copper wire, all gauged, valued, and priced on copper content material inside. There are numerous different variations of wire, copper content material materials resembling aluminum shielded THNN wire (aluminum BX cable), metal shielded THNN wire (BX cable), electrical motors, transformers, ballast, sealed items, and so on. All are simply completely different variations of the identical factor–steel with a copper content material that can decide its worth.
We’re right here that will help you recycle your scrap wire
At steel scrap yard close to me, you’ll be able to ship us footage of your materials earlier than your go to, and we can provide you an analysis. When you desire, take a look at our web site for scrap steel value listings first after which are available and present us your wire and if it’s larger high quality, we provides you with a better value. As a result of we conduct our enterprise in an open, trustworthy, and clear method, we are going to at all times have pricing on our web site, pay for further high quality and amount, and may even supply prospects with a better quantity of exercise a pricing system that’s pegged to the London Steel Alternate copper value. Kitcometals.com supplies an app to trace copper, aluminum, and nickel pricing without cost at any time in your telephone. This places the facility in your fingers to know the present worth of the commodity, and together with your pricing system, you’ll at all times know when to promote.
In abstract, the more durable to bend, the higher. The extra orange the wire is inside, the higher. The less attachments, the higher. At our scrapyard, we’re right here that will help you get essentially the most cash on your steel; nowhere is data extra essential than grading insulated copper wire!
