SPEC2/0 AWG at a glance
| Also called | 2/0, 00, 2 aught |
|---|---|
| Conductor area | 133.1 kcmil · 67.4 mm² |
| Solid diameter | 0.365 in |
| Stranded (Class B) | 19 strands · 0.418 in |
| THHN outside diameter | ≈ 0.532 in |
| Finished copper wire weight | ≈ 467 lb / 1,000 ft |
| Bare copper weight | ≈ 411 lb / 1,000 ft |
| Common put-ups | 500 ft reels · 1,000 ft reels |
| Conductor | 60 °C | 75 °C | 90 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 145 A | 175 A | 195 A |
| Aluminum | 115 A | 135 A | 150 A |
Dimensions from NEC Chapter 9 Tables 5 and 8. Weights are approximate and vary by manufacturer and insulation. For design, follow the NEC and a licensed electrician.
Wire types we buy in 2/0 AWG
01Identify 2/0 AWG by Jacket Print and Reel Tags
Start with the jacket legend or reel tag. Look for 2/0 AWG, 00 or 2 aught, along with the conductor metal, insulation designation, manufacturer and date code. Photograph the complete marking rather than just the size. On multiconductor cable, include the tag that identifies the assembly and its conductor sizes.
Aught sizes belong to the AWG system. MCM is another name for kcmil, a conductor-area unit; the 133.1 kcmil area of 2/0 AWG does not mean the jacket will identify it as an MCM size. Our wire gauge chart helps distinguish these naming systems.
The supplied solid conductor diameter is 0.365 in. Class B stranded construction has 19 strands and a conductor diameter of 0.418 in. Approximate THHN outside diameter is 0.532 in, including insulation. Diameter alone cannot reliably identify cable: insulation and stranding vary, especially with flexible welding cable. Clear markings are more useful for an offer than a measurement alone.
02What the 2/0 AWG Specifications Mean
Conductor area describes the metal cross section, not the cable’s finished outside diameter. For 2/0 AWG, that area is 133.1 kcmil, or 67.4 mm². Insulation, jackets and cable construction add bulk and weight without changing the stated conductor size. Copper and aluminum of the same AWG size also have different weights and ampacities.
Under NEC 310.16 at 30°C ambient, before adjustments, copper ampacities are 145 amps in the 60°C column, 175 amps in the 75°C column and 195 amps in the 90°C column. Aluminum values are 115, 135 and 150 amps in those respective columns.
These are reference values, not a blanket installation approval. Terminal temperature ratings, ambient conditions, conductor grouping and application requirements determine the usable rating. A THHN/THWN-2 marking does not automatically make the highest temperature-column ampacity available at the equipment terminals. Have a licensed electrician or engineer select conductors and apply the required corrections and limitations.
03Common Uses in Houston Construction and Plants
Surplus 2/0 cable can come from Houston construction projects, residential service work and plant electrical jobs. Copper 2/0 is commonly used for 175-amp feeders where the applicable conditions permit it. It also appears in 200-amp residential services under applicable dwelling-service sizing provisions; that use should not be confused with the general NEC 310.16 ampacity values.
Industrial sellers may have flexible welding leads, feeder cable or bare copper left after a project scope changes. The brief identifies 2/0 as the most common heavy welding lead size. Bare copper in this size also serves ground-ring applications, where conductor condition and usable length matter to a buyer.
Tell us what the material was purchased for, but rely on its markings to establish what it is. Unused stock, reusable removed cable and damaged remnants need different evaluations. We focus on material that can be reused and will tell you when short, burned or heavily damaged wire is better suited to scrap.
04Wire Types We Buy in 2/0 AWG
As 2/0 AWG wire buyers, we evaluate both single conductors and cable assemblies. The insulation designation and complete assembly description matter: two reels with the same conductor size can serve different applications and attract different demand. Send the full tag or jacket legend so we can review the actual product.
Building and feeder materials include THHN/THWN-2 wire, XHHW-2 wire and USE-2/RHW-2 cable. We also buy MC cable, MC-HL / Teck cable and SER/SEU cable containing this conductor size.
Other materials we review include URD, medium-voltage cable, tray cable, VFD cable, welding cable, bare copper and PV wire. Include conductor count and any shield, armor or jacket information shown on the tag. Flexible welding construction should not be assumed to match the supplied Class B diameter. Copper and aluminum are both eligible for review; condition and identification determine whether the material fits our reusable-wire focus.
05How Footage, Weight and Packaging Affect Value
The 2/0 AWG copper wire value depends on more than gross pounds. We consider conductor-metal markets, cable type and demand, size, footage, manufacturer, date code, quantity, packaging condition and pickup logistics. Reusable wire is usually worth more than its scrap melt value, but condition and usable lengths affect that distinction.
Common put-ups are 500 ft and 1,000 ft reels. Intact tags and reliable footage records help establish what remains on a partial reel. Photograph reel flanges, exposed cable ends and any visible damage, and distinguish net cable weight from weight that includes the reel.
For a simple estimate, finished copper THHN/THWN-2 weighing approximately 467 lb corresponds to about 1,000 ft when packaging is excluded. That factor does not apply to every construction: bare stranded copper is about 411 lb per 1,000 ft, while bare aluminum is about 125 lb per 1,000 ft. Armor, additional conductors and jackets change the calculation. Treat weight-derived footage as an estimate until verified.
06Sell 2/0 AWG Wire in Houston with Scheduled Pickup
To sell 2/0 wire, text 951-403-5738 or email industrial832@gmail.com with tag and jacket photos, footage or weight, and your location. You can also request a written offer. We review the information, provide the offer, schedule pickup or drop-off, verify the material on site, and arrange payment per the written offer.
For heavy reels, describe site access, reel condition and available loading equipment before scheduling. Tell us whether material is stored indoors or outdoors and whether reels can be reached without moving other stock. Those details help us plan pickup logistics; do not assume a particular loading arrangement is included.
We serve Greater Houston only: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers and Waller counties. Drop-off at 6402 McGrew St, Houston, TX 77087 is by appointment only—call first. The location is in southeast Houston’s Mayfair area, near I-45 and I-610. Houston Wire Buyers is not affiliated with Houston Wire & Cable Company or any manufacturer.
FAQQuestions sellers ask
Can I sell a partial reel without knowing the exact footage?
Yes, send the information you have and clearly label the footage as unknown or estimated. Include the reel tag, remaining cable, any visible length markings and weight if available. We can review a partial reel without treating its original put-up as the amount remaining; the material is verified on site.
Is 2/0 welding cable valued the same as 2/0 building wire?
Not necessarily. Matching conductor size does not make the products interchangeable or equally marketable. Welding cable has different construction and application requirements from building wire. Send its actual markings and describe the lead condition, usable lengths and any attached fittings so we can evaluate it as welding cable rather than assume another wire type.
Do you buy 2/0 cable that has already been installed?
We review reusable removed cable as well as new and unused surplus. Tell us it was previously installed and photograph the jacket, ends and any affected areas. Prior installation is relevant to the evaluation, but the decision depends on identification and condition. Burned or heavily damaged cable is better suited to scrap.
Should I strip insulation before offering my 2/0 copper wire?
If you want it evaluated for reuse, leave the insulation and identification intact. Stripping removes the finished wire construction and may eliminate its reusable-wire value. Photograph the existing markings first and send the material as it stands for review. Bare copper originally supplied for grounding is a separate product we also buy.
Can I combine copper and aluminum 2/0 cable in one offer request?
Yes. Identify each material separately so copper footage or weight is not mixed with aluminum figures. Group photos by reel, coil or cable type and note which records belong to each item. We buy both metals, but their market basis, weight factors and product demand differ.