The Electrical Contractor Network Create and Share your own Electrical Related Photo Gallery! Electrical Safety Forum
Electrical Supplies Finder    Electrical Classifieds    Electrician Finder    ElectricalPhotos.com
Live Chat

Join in a Live Electrical Chat!
Electrical Chat
Schedule:  9pm EST
Wed - Business Chat
Friday - General Chat

>> Login
 

  Sorry, your browser is not Java enabled, please visit our java support pages

in Chatroom
September
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
Recent Posts
Top Posters
7649
pauluk
7333
Trumpy
4767
sparky
4343
iwire
4132
Bill Addiss
Who's Online
8 registered (drum, HIYER, gfretwell, Scott35, staylor, electure) and 24 anonymous users online.
Page 1 of 1 1
Topic Options
#177567 - 05/07/08 06:17 PM Cashing in Scrap
wiking
Junior Member


Registered: 12/13/02
Posts: 32
Loc: Florida, USA

Offline
Everyone on the job has caught "copper fever". The GC demos the low voltage ( sometimes some they weren't supposed to) before the low voltage contractor, who is contracted by the tenant, even hits the job.
What amazes me is that although unstripped THHN brings around a dollar a pound, these guys are getting 90 cents a pound for phone and data wire.
I don't understand it because I would think most of the weight is in the insulation, isn't it something like #22 wire size? Although most of it is 8 conductor, how can it compare in price with regular electrical wire?
One guy was telling me that it is a higher grade of wire, but I'm not buying it, yet. Anyone have any comments?

Top
Featured Tools
#177572 - 05/07/08 08:07 PM Re: Cashing in Scrap [Re: wiking]
twh
Member


Registered: 03/11/04
Posts: 249
Loc: Regina, Sask.

Offline
It depends on how much the guy stripping the wire gets:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/01/high-tech-trash/carroll-text

Top
#177581 - 05/07/08 11:10 PM Re: Cashing in Scrap [Re: twh]
EV607797
Member


Registered: 10/25/06
Posts: 452
Loc: Lorton, VA, USA

Offline
It's generally four pair, 24 gauge by today's standards, but older telephone wire can be anywhere from 2 pair to 100+ pair. 22 gauge is pretty uncommon. It's the same quality of copper. I agree that it's mostly plastic, and I've never seen anything close to 90 cents a pound for it. I'm not buying that either.
_________________________
---Ed---

"But the guy at Home Depot said it would work."

Top
#177584 - 05/08/08 12:43 AM Re: Cashing in Scrap [Re: EV607797]
noderaser
Member


Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 169
Loc: Portland, Oregon, United State...

Offline
I've known this sort of thing has been going on for quite some time, but the pictures of fields and warehouses full of e-waste are amazing! While I understand the drive for "better" & faster technology, I don't understand why so much useable equipment is thrown away. Things like monitors, keyboards, printers, etc. will work just as well with your new computer as they did with your old one. I suppose it's because computers are priced, so that these things are all bundled together. I personally have used the same computer for almost 8 years now, and make a hobby out of refurbishing and reselling old computers (specifically, Macs).
Top
Page 1 of 1 1


Moderator:  electure, pauluk, Roger, Trumpy, Scott35, Ryan_J, resqcapt19, renosteinke, LK, iwire, dougwells, C-H 
Hop to:
Featured:

2008 NEC & Related Books, Tabs, CD-ROMs & Exam Prep Study Guides
2008 NEC & Related Books, Tabs, CD-ROMs & Exam Prep Study Guides


Tools for Electricians
Tools for Electricians

 * * * * * * * *

Electrical Chat
Join in a Live Electrical Chat!
Schedule:
 9pm EST
Wed - Business Chat
Friday - General Chat

>>
Login
 

  Sorry, your browser is not Java enabled, please visit our java support pages

in Chatroom

* * * * * * * *
Licensing Info and Lookup
Licensing Info
& Lookup

 


Generated in 0.089 seconds in which 0.011 seconds were spent on a total of 14 queries. Zlib compression disabled.

Live Chat

Join in a Live Electrical Chat!
Electrical Chat
Schedule:  9pm EST
Wed - Business Chat
Friday - General Chat

>> Login
 

  Sorry, your browser is not Java enabled, please visit our java support pages

in Chatroom

Recent Posts

Who's Online
8 registered (drum, HIYER, gfretwell, Scott35, staylor, electure) and 24 anonymous users online.

ECN Electrical Forums - sponsored by Electrical Contractor Network - Electrical and Code Related Discussion for Electrical Contractors, Electricians, Inspectors, Instructors, Engineers and other related Professionals