SPEC600 kcmil at a glance
| Also called | 600 MCM |
|---|---|
| Conductor area | 600 kcmil · 304 mm² |
| Stranded (Class B) | 61 strands · 0.893 in |
| THHN outside diameter | ≈ 1.051 in |
| Finished copper wire weight | ≈ 2,027 lb / 1,000 ft |
| Bare copper weight | ≈ 1,854 lb / 1,000 ft |
| Common put-ups | 1,000 ft reels |
| Conductor | 60 °C | 75 °C | 90 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 350 A | 420 A | 475 A |
| Aluminum | 285 A | 340 A | 385 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 600 kcmil
01Identifying 600 kcmil Wire Before You Sell
Start with the reel tag and jacket print. Look for 600 kcmil or 600 MCM, the conductor metal, insulation designation, manufacturer and any date code. MCM is the older designation for thousands of circular mils; it identifies the same area as kcmil. This size is not an aught designation, so do not identify it by counting zeros.
The supplied Class B stranded construction has 61 strands and a conductor diameter of 0.893 inch. Approximate THHN outside diameter is 1.051 inches. That outside measurement includes insulation and should serve only as a cross-check, not proof of size or wire type. Other constructions can have different finished diameters.
Photograph a readable stretch of jacket print and the reel tag rather than relying on appearance alone. If you have mixed reels, keep each identification separate. Our AWG and kcmil wire gauge chart helps distinguish the naming systems before you submit your material.
02What the 600 kcmil Specifications Mean
The conductor area is 600 kcmil, approximately 304 mm². Area identifies the conductor size; it does not establish an allowable load by itself. Conductor metal, insulation rating, terminal temperature limits and installation conditions all matter.
Under NEC 310.16 at 30°C ambient, before adjustments, the supplied copper ampacities are 350 amps at 60°C, 420 amps at 75°C and 475 amps at 90°C. Aluminum values are 285, 340 and 385 amps at those respective temperatures. The 90°C column is not automatic permission to load a feeder to that value when its terminations require a lower temperature basis.
These figures help identify the material's likely applications, but they are not installation instructions. Ambient-temperature correction, conductor-count adjustments and other applicable requirements can change usable ampacity. Consult a licensed electrician or engineer for circuit design. Our NEC wire ampacity chart provides context alongside the separate specifications shown on this page.
03Common Applications in Houston Construction and Plants
In Houston construction and plant work, 600 kcmil conductors appear in large feeder runs, parallel service sets, and generator and UPS feeders. Copper feeder applications commonly reference the supplied 420-amp value at 75°C, subject to the actual installation requirements. Project leftovers may include unopened reels, remaining footage from completed pulls or unused cut lengths.
You may also encounter 600 kcmil aluminum in feeder work associated with 400-amp services. That application description does not mean a single conductor has a 400-amp table rating: the supplied aluminum value at 75°C is 340 amps. Any applicable service-sizing provisions and installation conditions require review by a licensed electrician or engineer.
For sellers, the useful details are what remains and whether another buyer can reuse it. Keep surplus 600 kcmil cable separated by metal and insulation type. Include project storage conditions and visible damage in your submission; a clean tag alone does not establish reusable condition.
04600 kcmil Wire Types We Buy
We buy reusable copper and aluminum THHN/THWN-2 wire and XHHW-2 wire in this size. Send the complete jacket designation rather than describing every large insulated conductor as THHN. Dual markings, manufacturer information and date codes help us review what you actually have.
Full reels are welcome, but a partial reel or usable cut length can also have resale potential. We assess remaining footage, insulation condition and packaging together. Do not assume material is scrap just because the original job is finished or the reel is no longer full.
We also do not treat every leftover length as reusable inventory. Short, burned, cut-up or heavily damaged material may be better suited to scrap. Show damaged areas clearly and tell us whether the footage is continuous or divided into separate lengths. We focus on reusable wire and will explain what appears suitable for reuse during the review and verification process.
05How Footage, Weight and Reel Condition Affect Value
600 kcmil copper wire value depends on more than gross pounds. We consider conductor metal markets, wire type and demand, size, footage, manufacturer, date code, quantity, packaging condition and pickup logistics. Reusable wire is usually worth more than its scrap or melt value, but the offer depends on the actual material.
Finished copper THHN/THWN-2 weighs approximately 2,027 pounds per 1,000 feet. For a simple estimate, 2,027 pounds of that wire, excluding the reel, corresponds to approximately 1,000 feet. The same calculation cannot use gross reel weight without subtracting packaging. Our copper wire weight chart explains the role of construction in weight estimates.
Bare stranded copper is approximately 1,854 pounds per 1,000 feet; bare aluminum is approximately 564 pounds per 1,000 feet. Neither figure represents finished insulated aluminum cable. Common put-ups are 1,000-foot reels. Send known footage when available, and distinguish measured quantities from estimates when asking to sell surplus wire reels.
06Selling Your 600 kcmil Surplus in Greater Houston
When comparing 600 kcmil wire buyers, start with a clear material description. Text photos to 951-403-5738 or email industrial832@gmail.com with footage or weight and your location. We review the submission, issue a written offer, schedule pickup or drop-off, verify the material on site and pay according to the written offer.
Houston Wire Buyers serves Greater Houston only: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers and Waller counties. Scheduled wire pickup in Houston takes place at the seller's site. For heavy reels, describe site access, reel condition and available loading equipment so handling can be discussed before scheduling. Do not assume a loaded reel can be moved safely by hand.
Drop-off is by appointment only at 6402 McGrew St, Houston, TX 77087, in southeast Houston's Mayfair area near I-45 and I-610. Call first rather than arriving with a load. To begin, request a written wire offer with identification photos and quantity details.
FAQQuestions sellers ask
Can I sell 600 MCM wire if the tag does not say kcmil?
Yes. If you want to sell 600 MCM wire, that marking identifies the same conductor area as 600 kcmil. Send the tag along with jacket-print photos so we can check the metal and insulation designation. An older naming convention alone does not determine whether the material is reusable or what it is worth.
Does a faded or missing reel tag prevent an offer?
Not necessarily. Clear jacket markings may still identify the size, conductor metal and wire type. Photograph all readable markings and explain which details are unknown. We review the available information, but missing identification or uncertain footage can limit the assessment. Do not substitute an assumed specification for an unreadable marking.
Should I strip reusable 600 kcmil copper before selling it?
Contact us before stripping it. Removing intact insulation changes the material from an identifiable insulated conductor into bare metal and can eliminate its potential for reuse in that form. Send photos first so we can assess the cable as it stands. We focus on reusable material rather than automatically valuing everything as scrap.
Can I submit copper and aluminum reels in one request?
Yes. Identify each reel separately and provide its metal, wire type, footage or weight, and condition. Keep the photos matched to the correct reel so copper and aluminum quantities do not get combined into an inaccurate description. The materials can receive different valuations because their metal markets and resale demand differ.
Is Houston Wire Buyers part of Houston Wire & Cable Company?
No. Houston Wire Buyers is not affiliated with Houston Wire & Cable Company or any manufacturer. We purchase surplus wire from sellers in Greater Houston. For questions about selling your 600 kcmil material or arranging an appointment, call or text 951-403-5738, or email industrial832@gmail.com.