Results 1 to 15 of 15

Whats the biggest power cord you have scrapped?

| Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
  1. #1
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts

    Whats the biggest power cord you have scrapped?

    Hi been a while im gona be getting some big wires soon some of these 2/4 ,4/4, 10/4 and 10/3 and some xhhw 2 anyone done percentages on these types of cords do they fair better than a extension cord that is 16 gauge in copper vs weight? Percentage of 6 gauge xhhw 2 percentage? Im sure these have at least 75% recover rate right? I know bigger gauge means more copper.



  2. #2
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    Hi Mike. Most of those are gonna be, without ends, 45 to a max of 53% recovery. Unless you have a large amount of one of them, most yards will buy it at 45%. 6 gauge xhhw you can sell, if the yard has the category, at 85%, otherwise normal 75-80% as Number 1. Or if you have a good quantity of MCM you can blend a little 85% in

  3. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by JJinLV:


  4. #3
    auminer's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Allen, TX
    Posts
    1,233
    Thanks
    579
    Thanked 2,301 Times in 857 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    Hi been a while im gona be getting some big wires soon some of these 2/4 ,4/4, 10/4 and 10/3 and some xhhw 2 anyone done percentages on these types of cords do they fair better than a extension cord that is 16 gauge in copper vs weight? Percentage of 6 gauge xhhw 2 percentage? Im sure these have at least 75% recover rate right? I know bigger gauge means more copper.

    Bluerock wire stripper. It's worth it.

    \
    Out of clutter, find simplicity. --Albert Einstein

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to auminer for This Post:


  6. #4
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by JJinLV View Post
    Hi Mike. Most of those are gonna be, without ends, 45 to a max of 53% recovery. Unless you have a large amount of one of them, most yards will buy it at 45%. 6 gauge xhhw you can sell, if the yard has the category, at 85%, otherwise normal 75-80% as Number 1. Or if you have a good quantity of MCM you can blend a little 85% in
    I just got a minimal amount wow that low of percentage huh. I tried to calculate percentage of a cord once got 60% rate mite be wrong though maybe my scale is off? It was 2lbs 9oz whole and i got 1lb 5oz bare i think it was 4/4 not sure but im close to the percentage right? How do you calculate the percentage ? I wonder if its how i do it. Also why would i get 70% for 12 romex and 58% for 10 romex wouldnt 10 gauge have a higher percentage rate? I thought the lower the number gauge like 10,6,4,ect the higher the recovery its not true then?

  7. #5
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,351
    Thanks
    797
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 721 Posts
    Calculating the percentage can be done by hand but i like to use an online percentage calculator.

    https://www.calculator.net/percent-calculator.html

    _____ is what % of _____

  8. #6
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    I just got a minimal amount wow that low of percentage huh. I tried to calculate percentage of a cord once got 60% rate mite be wrong though maybe my scale is off? It was 2lbs 9oz whole and i got 1lb 5oz bare i think it was 4/4 not sure but im close to the percentage right? How do you calculate the percentage ? I wonder if its how i do it. Also why would i get 70% for 12 romex and 58% for 10 romex wouldnt 10 gauge have a higher percentage rate? I thought the lower the number gauge like 10,6,4,ect the higher the recovery its not true then?
    The quick answer is that wire gauge is a measurement unrelated to insulation weight. You can ask your yard the reason if you want their answer about the romex. Most yards don't differentiate their romex in my experience

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to JJinLV for This Post:


  10. #7
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by JJinLV View Post
    The quick answer is that wire gauge is a measurement unrelated to insulation weight. You can ask your yard the reason if you want their answer about the romex. Most yards don't differentiate their romex in my experience
    Oh wow so gauge isnt important then? Ok have you ever done a full spool of a certain gauge wire and came up with a certain bare copper number ? I found a chart that tells bare wire weight of 1000ft of any gauge was wondering how accurate it was me id never get 1000ft of the same wire lol. Bare Copper Wire Data - Ness Engineering Inc.

  11. #8
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    Oh wow so gauge isnt important then? Ok have you ever done a full spool of a certain gauge wire and came up with a certain bare copper number ? I found a chart that tells bare wire weight of 1000ft of any gauge was wondering how accurate it was me id never get 1000ft of the same wire lol. Bare Copper Wire Data - Ness Engineering Inc.
    Gauge is useful for estimating recovery in combination with other data. I've never scrapped a whole spool. When I get whole spools I sell them to electricians as is.

  12. #9
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by JJinLV View Post
    Gauge is useful for estimating recovery in combination with other data. I've never scrapped a whole spool. When I get whole spools I sell them to electricians as is.
    From what i did in percentage wise i found that thhn
    Has percentage of 84 that was 4 awg now will the same gauge awg 4 but has rubber insulation will it have 84% rcovery as well or not since the insulation is rubber?

  13. #10
    pappawheelie's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    WI
    Posts
    94
    Thanks
    69
    Thanked 148 Times in 48 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    I just got a minimal amount wow that low of percentage huh. I tried to calculate percentage of a cord once got 60% rate mite be wrong though maybe my scale is off? It was 2lbs 9oz whole and i got 1lb 5oz bare i think it was 4/4 not sure but im close to the percentage right? How do you calculate the percentage ? I wonder if its how i do it. Also why would i get 70% for 12 romex and 58% for 10 romex wouldnt 10 gauge have a higher percentage rate? I thought the lower the number gauge like 10,6,4,ect the higher the recovery its not true then?
    Calculating % is simple math, stripped weight divided by whole weight. (1# 5oz) 21 oz divided by (2# 9oz) 41 oz = .512 or 51.2%. Remember the larger the wire size the heavier the insulation. My yard pays at 45% for cords, sometimes 50% with other wire mixed in. My yard pays for romex as #1 insulated at 70%. I don't strip any wires under battery cable size, my TIME is too valuable. I don't mind getting paid for the weight of the insulation, and not spending any extra time on it !!! You can always do your own test if you get a large quantity of a certain wire, and sell it at whatever % it is.

  14. #11
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts
    My yard pays .85 for insulated num 1 so if i have 100lbs of romex mixed gauges id get only 85$ if i strip it i should get a bit more 138$ if its 60% not sure wat peecentage is tho have to get the 100lbs or maybe less not sure its in a barrel lol.

  15. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,072
    Thanks
    615
    Thanked 2,445 Times in 1,092 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by mike1 View Post
    Hi been a while im gona be getting some big wires soon some of these 2/4 ,4/4, 10/4 and 10/3 and some xhhw 2 anyone done percentages on these types of cords do they fair better than a extension cord that is 16 gauge in copper vs weight? Percentage of 6 gauge xhhw 2 percentage? Im sure these have at least 75% recover rate right? I know bigger gauge means more copper.
    I would have to plead the fifth.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to alloy2 for This Post:


  17. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    164
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 62 Times in 47 Posts
    I see a lot of stepping over dollars to make a dime.

  18. #14
    mike1 started this thread.
    mike1's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rochester indiana
    Posts
    551
    Thanks
    231
    Thanked 93 Times in 76 Posts
    Stepping over dollars to make a dime hm. Well since i only get wires from a guy at work my supply isnt super high personally id rather take time to strip it corse if i thought about it i can always do wat the other people do sell my striped wire for super high prices for jewelry or something else maybe copper statues someone can make from the melted copper if they melt it that is.

  19. #15
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    164
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 62 Times in 47 Posts
    It's pretty simple. Strip and weigh. Strip and weigh. Weigh and strip. Weigh and strip.

    As for your biggest power cord question, it only get so big. Then it's just made up of smaller cord in a bundle.


  20. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Has anyone scrapped this type of cord?
      By mike1 in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 12-28-2019, 11:39 AM
    2. Dumb rookie power cord question.
      By DrJamesDaddy in forum Dismantling, Breaking Down & Maximizing Scrap
      Replies: 16
      Last Post: 11-13-2012, 12:28 PM
    3. Standard 6-foot Power Cable or Power Cord
      By Recyclotrops in forum Dismantling, Breaking Down & Maximizing Scrap
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 08-09-2012, 09:03 PM
    4. Anyone have this power cord handy?
      By GeorgeB in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 12-14-2011, 11:06 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook