Industrial cable
MC and AC cable
Metal-clad and armored cable arrives on site in 250 and 1000 foot coils, gets cut for a dozen branch runs, and leaves as six short coils nobody wants to inventory.
MC versus AC
MC (metal-clad) cable has conductors in an interlocked metal armor with a separate grounding path. AC (armored cable, historically "BX") uses a bonding strip in contact with the armor as the ground path. Both are used for branch circuits and feeders where conduit is impractical: above ceilings, in walls, across plant rooms.
MC-HL adds a hazardous-location rating and appears in refineries, fuel terminals and some food plants. HCF and healthcare-grade variants turn up in hospital work.
What we buy
Coils, spools and reels of MC and AC, complete or cut. Copper conductor is the common case; aluminum armor is expected and does not change the category.
- 250 ft and 1000 ft coils, opened or sealed
- Short cut lengths, banded or boxed
- 2, 3 and 4 conductor configurations with ground
- MC-HL and healthcare-grade leftover stock
Why short lengths still matter
A 40 foot coil of 10/3 MC is not worth a freight truck on its own — but a pallet of them is. If you are clearing a job trailer or a warehouse shelf, send one photo of the whole pile rather than a list of individual lengths. Weight and copper content are what drive the number.
Sizes
Common sizes we see on Idaho reels
- #14
- #12
- #10
- #8
- #6
- #4
- #2
- #1
- 1/0
- 2/0
- 3/0
- 4/0
Sizes shown as AWG and MCM. Anything between the listed sizes is still worth quoting.
What to send
Details that let us quote it properly
- The print on the armor or the conductor legend
- Number of conductors, with or without ground
- Size, e.g. 12/2, 10/3
- Approximate length of each coil
- Whether the coils are sealed or cut
- One wide photo of the whole pile
Email photos to saleselectricalbuyers@gmail.com or add them to the form below. Either way, keep the tag and the jacket legend readable.
Do you take loose, unbanded lengths?
Sometimes, but they are harder to handle and harder to price. Band them if you can, and photograph the pile so the quantity is visible.
Does aluminum armor reduce the value?
The conductor is what carries most of the value. Armor type is noted but it is not the deciding factor.
Quote MC or AC cable
Choose the category that matches your material, then fill in the size, footage and condition as closely as you can.
Keep reading
Related categories and areas
Other wire and cable
Reels in the way? Send the tag photos.
Tell us the type, size, footage and voltage, and send a few photos of the reels, tags and jacket legend. We will review the material and talk through pricing and logistics.