If you are stripping out an old building or home and come across lots of electrical wires then you might wonder what to do with all of these materials. First off, you should hold off on tossing them into the skip bin. All of those messy wires might look like useless junk but they are actually a mini gold mine. Let’s take a look at how to make money from old PVC cables.
What Are PVC Cables?
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) cables are made from copper wire that is coated with PVC. The PVC coating acts as insulation to protect the main wire and prevent short circuits or electrification. These wires are sought after because they contain no chemical properties and can be used in all sorts of chemical industries. These cables are mainly used for wiring homes, lights, and appliances but their application is very diverse.
How to Identify PVC Wires?
PVC and XLPE wires can look very similar and they have a similar function but there are some differences. PVC wires are wired with copper wire while XLPE wires are wired with copper and aluminum with XLPE insulation.
PVC wires tend to be much more affordable compared to XLPE wires and, as such, are much more common. XLPE wires also tend to be much thicker since they are designed to support a much higher voltage level.
For a scrap metal collector, these differences don’t matter too much since either one of these wires can be good for increasing your scrap pile.
Where Can You Find Old PVC Cables?
Copper wires or PVC wires are used for all sorts of electrical applications and since everything is electrical these days, you can find them almost anywhere. Here is a quick look at the best places to find PVC wires.
- Electrical wiring inside old homes, offices, or factories
- Electrical wiring inside old scrap cars
- Extension cords
- The cords of old electrical appliances
- Old telephone cables
- Inside TVs and computer monitors
- Hard drive connectors and power cables for computers
- Inside refrigerators and other large appliances
Should You Strip PVC Wires?
It isn’t the PVC around the wire that makes it valuable. Only the copper inside the wire is recyclable and sought after. As a metal collector, you might wonder if you should strip the wire before reselling it. Stripping your wires can be worthwhile because it might generate a higher sales price since the copper content takes up the majority of the weight. Stripping wires can, however, be very tiresome and you do need the right tools for the job. If you don’t have the right tools then it is best to simply leave it as is. A good scrap metal company will still love to acquire these products from you and they will take care of the stripping.
How to Make Money from PVC Cables
If you want to make money from old PVC cables then it is best to collect as much of these wires as you possibly can and include it along with the rest of your scrap metal pile. The PVC casing around the copper wires might become old and brittle over time but copper has an infinite lifespan and should stay in great shape no matter how old it is.
It can be difficult to get your hands on lots of PVC cables but these copper wires can be very useful for increasing your profits when you are collecting and selling scrap metal. It is best to grab as many of these wires as you can and sell them to Danny Scrap Metal. We offer high rates for copper wires and goods and are happy to buy all the wires you might have.