What we buy
- Tray cable, TC and TC-ER, exposed-run rated
- Power-limited tray cable, PLTC, for instrumentation and control
- VFD cable with an overall shield, three conductors plus ground
- 600V, 1kV and 2kV tray-rated constructions
- #16 AWG control sizes through 500 MCM power conductors
- PVC, CPE, TPU and XLPE insulation and jacket combinations
- Full reels, partial reels and cut lengths
The jacket legend matters here. Tray ratings, sunlight resistance, direct-burial ratings and oil resistance are all printed on the cable, and those ratings are what make a reel usable for the next buyer.
VFD cable is not ordinary tray cable
Variable frequency drive cable carries a symmetrical ground and an overall shield to control noise on the motor circuit. It is bought in specific lengths for a drive installation, which means partial reels are normal.
Send the reel tag, the shield construction and the conductor configuration, usually 3/C plus ground, and the quote can be accurate without a site visit.
Details that decide the number
Tray and VFD details
- Product
- TC, TC-ER, PLTC, VFD, tray-rated control
- Voltage
- 600V, 1kV, 2kV
- Conductors
- 2 to 4 conductor plus ground
- Sizes
- #18 through 500 MCM
- Shielding
- Overall shield, drain wire, symmetrical ground
- Jacket
- PVC, CPE, TPU, XLPE
- Quantity
- Footage and reel count
- Ratings
- Sunlight resistant, direct burial, oil resistant
Ratings printed on the jacket legend are part of the value. Photograph the print.
Mixed plant surplus
Plant maintenance stores accumulate tray cable, control cable and VFD cable in the same rack. One load may contain eight part-reels of different constructions.
List them line by line with the jacket legend visible in the photos. That is faster and more accurate than trying to sort the rack before we talk.
Reels, weight and loading
Power tray cable reels get heavy quickly at 4/0 and 500 MCM. Confirm whether the reels are on pallets, whether a forklift can reach them, and whether a trailer can get to the dock.
If the reels are in a basement, a mezzanine or a tight electrical room, tell us before the pickup is planned. Access changes the equipment, not the interest.
FAQ
Questions we get from sellers
Do you buy cable with the shield cut or the drain wire trimmed?
Yes, describe and photograph the cut end. Shield and drain condition matters for resale, and a clear photo of the end is the fastest way to price it.
Is PLTC bought the same way as tray cable?
It is quoted on the same fields, but PLTC is a power-limited product used for instrumentation. State the cable type and voltage rating from the jacket legend.
Do you take partial VFD reels?
Regularly. Drive installations rarely use a full reel, so partial reels are the norm. Send the remaining footage and the construction details.