Huge Amount of Computer Power Cords & AC Adapters...Best way?

Hey guys,

I've got a few questions here regarding computers and wires, as I feel like I've gotten the wrong prices in the past. I'm not new to scrapping, but I'm definitely not a professional! Any help would be appreciated! So my lucky spot happened to spit out money with 75 computers, and boxes of unused and used computer power cords. I have hundreds of computer power cords (not the cords that connect the monitor which I believe have other metals besides copper? or some of them)... I cut them open to make sure, and it looks like 3 strands of just copper yay. I just wanted to make sure, these cords are just copper insulated wire correct, for around 2 bucks a pound depending on my yard? Can I leave them as is, without cutting the ends off? Theres definitely over a hundred pounds here so it should be a nice payday depending on the prices.

My next question would involve the AC adapters. I believe they are all from laptops. What is the best way to get the most money for these? Should I leave them with the cords? I don't think I'm looking to break them all open unless it is incredibly worth it, I've done it in the past but it's been a while. What kind of prices do you get for these?

My last question... There's only one scrap yard in my area that takes e-scrap from computers, and they don't pay very much. What is the most other scrappers would pay per computer if I were to throw them on Craigslist to see if anyone would be interested? Is it way to much to ask 4 or 5 dollars a desktop? I've spent many days taking apart computers and scrapping them out entirely, it just takes too much time for me and my yard is light on the prices (I think I can almost get the same if left together surprisingly).

Thank you all for your help!

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If you where in my are I would buy them from you for 3 to 4 dollars depending how complete. Shipping boards to a forum buyer is the best way if you were to brake them down.

Okay yeah, great to know thanks. They are fully complete luckily!

You should really check on the buyer pages here for prices on your circuit boards. There are several who will pay you enough to cover shipping and beat the local yards by a lot. $4 - $5 is a decent price on the whole towers as long as they are complete, but you can make better money breaking them down.

You might sell the new cords on CraigList as a package lot. A computer repair person might just buy them.
Power cords are copper and the ends are brass, but some yards will accept the ends, other won't.
Insulated #2 copper is only running around 1.45 a lb now. Prices have dropped. Clean #1 and #2 is still over 2.00a lb.
With the computers, your best bet would be to tear them down, and find one of our good buyers here and ship the parts to them for a great payday.
If you don't want to mess with them then package them together and list on CL for around the $5.00 ea and some scrapper will scarf them up.

You have about 60 computers that have much higher than scrap value, depending on the cpu's in them. Selling whole to a refurbisher can mean the difference between a few hundred and a few thousand.

Excellent, thank you all for the information. I decided I will take some of the computers apart, some are actually much easier than the others. I didn't think of shipping the materials to someone on the forum, so that might work out nicely. I would sell them to a refurbisher, but they all got soaken wet in a thunderstorm, so I would guess no one can use them. For the power cords however, would they still work fine if they got wet? I do see bulk lots on ebay. How bout the AC adapters, what's the best way?

any core 2 machines shoudl sell to local computer guys for $25 to $40 depending on whats in them. The laptop computer power adapters I buy for $4 each complete myself. Name brand only.

Cool, there are some core 2 duo's actually. But no one would want them considering they got soaked in the rain right?

Any Optiplex, core2, windows7, windows vista will sell for more than scrap value even if the hd have been pulled. If you don't have a local buyer sell your boards to a buyer here on the forum (E-wasted would be a good buyer to check out) As far as the cords go you should be able to sell the power cords to the scrap yard as they are without cutting the ends off. Your yard might want you to cut the cords off the ac adaptors .

"Got soaked in the rain" . Will still be good for recovery of base and precious metals, but will add a risk to buyers who might want to refurbish and resell them for profit. I think completely stripping and sorting all is the go, sell all e-waste items to the buyers here, and 1 load to your local yard with the base metals and trimmed cords.

There is a tasty amount of precious metal in that stack, someone who recovers and refines would be interested in taking the lot. Good score.

There was someone a while ago wanted to buy bulk power cables, they had to be good condition and prefably brand new.

They were from a near 3rd world country and were refurbising oldish computers.
Since they were getting the computers only, they needed the new cables to go with them.

For the cords this is what I do (and I have gotten bulk lots) It is overwhelming at first! I separate the cords if they have a transformer ac adapter or not, then the ones that only have the brass plug ends, I cut or pull off all brass for the brass bucket. If cord has steel twist tie or a steel cord plug housing or anything ferrous I cut them off and into the steel pile. The Transformers cut them off put in bucket. All wire mostly #2 insulated bag it up, if you get #1 insulated keep it separated. Then the not so fun part, as my yard will only take the transformers as motors if you remove the plastic housing from the plug. Get a beer and a hammer and start!

I get $1.00 a pound for #2 ins wire