Metal-clad cable · Georgia
We buy metal-clad cable for Georgia contractors
Interlocked armor over THHN or XHHW conductors, with a ground path built into the assembly. Leftover coils from a commercial fit-out are reviewed on armor condition, conductor size and how much of the coil is still on the reel.
- 14 AWG to 1,000 kcmil
- Aluminum or steel armor
- HCF and standard
01Overview
What this page covers
MC cable is a factory assembly: insulated conductors inside a formed metal armor, with either a bare ground conductor or an armor listed as an equipment ground. It is the default wiring method for commercial ceilings, parking structures, modular office walls and a great deal of light industrial work, and it is bought in 250, 500 and 1,000 ft coils that rarely get used to the last foot.
Leftover MC is one of the most common lots a commercial contractor holds, and one of the most often misdescribed. The armor type, the conductor count, the ground style and the temperature rating of the inner conductors all change what the coil is, and none of them can be read from a photograph of a coil sitting on a shelf.
02Specification
How an MC coil is identified
- Construction
- Interlocked armor over insulated conductors, 2 to 4 conductor
- Armor
- Aluminum or galvanized steel, interlocked; smooth or corrugated on some types
- Conductors
- THHN or THWN-2 singles, 14 AWG through 1,000 kcmil
- Voltage
- 600 V; 2,000 V assemblies for industrial feeders
- Ground
- Bare conductor, or armor listed as the equipment ground
- Types
- MC, MC-IC, MC-PCS and HCF health care assemblies
- Coils
- 250, 500 and 1,000 ft coils; larger on feeder sizes
- Standards
- UL 1569; armor and fitting listing shown on the tag
Photograph the cut end squarely. Conductor count, conductor colours, the presence of a bare ground and the armor profile all show in one frame at the end of a coil.
03What we review in this family
What we review in this family
Standard MC in aluminum armor
The lightest and most common commercial assembly, usually 12/2 and 12/3 for branch circuits and 10 AWG for small equipment. Aluminum armor dents rather than kinks, and a dent that has closed on the conductors is the main defect worth looking for.
Steel-armored MC for industrial work
Galvanized steel interlock in the same conductor configurations, chosen where abrasion and physical damage are expected. Reviewed on rust at the cut ends and along the spiral, since a coil stored on a damp floor rusts from the outside in.
HCF health care assemblies
MC with a redundant ground path, built for patient care areas where an equipment ground must not depend on a single path. The extra conductor is visible at the cut end and is the quickest way to tell an HCF coil from a standard one.
Feeder MC and 2 kV assemblies
Large-conductor MC from 1/0 up, used for risers and equipment feeds. Supplied on heavier coils or returnable reels and reviewed on footage first, because the conductor value sits in the length rather than the armor.
04Evaluation
How a leftover MC coil is reviewed
Start at the cut end. The armor profile, the conductor count, the colours, the presence or absence of a bare ground and the printed legend on the inner conductors are all in that one view. A coil with the end taped and the conductors trimmed back short is harder to read than one that was cut cleanly and left alone.
Armor condition decides more than sellers expect. A coil that has been dragged across a slab has flats and crushed spirals; a coil stored against a wall has rust along one side only. Neither prevents the cable from being used, but both change the review, and both are visible before the coil is unrolled.
Then footage. Part coils of MC are usually measured rather than trusted, either by the tag on the coil, the counter on the machine that cut it, or a physical pull. Say how many coils and whether they are banded, because a coil that has lost its ties arrives as a spring and is reviewed accordingly.
Cut armor is sharp on both edges and the interlock holds a memory of the coil. Gloves and eye protection are not optional when a banded coil is released, and a coil should never be cut open with the conductors still connected at the far end.
05Seller terms
Before you sell: how it works
Four things a seller should be able to pin down before a truck is booked.
Verification
Footage is checked against the reel tag, the sequential marks on the jacket, the wrap count against the barrel, or a published weight per 1,000 ft — whichever the reel actually supports.
Payment
Payment method and timing are agreed in writing for the specific lot before anything is loaded or moved. No verbal number is treated as an agreement.
Paperwork
A bill of sale for the lot, and for utility material the owning utility’s release reference. Neither is optional and neither is created after the fact.
Freight
Collection is arranged as part of the terms. Say what can lift the reels and whether a 53-foot trailer can reach them, and the pickup is planned around that.
Sending a reel list and photographs costs nothing. A review is not a purchase, and nothing is bought, moved or scheduled until written lot terms are agreed for that material. Request a pickup when the lot is ready.
07Questions
MC cable questions
Does MC cable need a separate ground wire?
Not always. Many MC assemblies use a listed interlocked armor as the equipment ground and carry no green conductor. HCF and some spec-driven assemblies add a redundant ground, which is visible at the cut end.
Do you buy part coils with a few feet left?
Yes, as part coils. Short remnants are grouped and reviewed together. A coil under ten feet is generally treated as cut scrap rather than as cable.
Can MC with crushed armor still be used?
Sometimes, but it has to be inspected along the crushed section for conductor damage, and the damaged length is normally cut out. Say where the damage is rather than describing the coil as good.
Is aluminum armor worth less than steel?
It is reviewed differently rather than ranked. Aluminum armor is lighter and more common on commercial work; steel is chosen for abuse. Condition of the armor matters more than which metal it is.
Photograph the cut end first
One square photograph of the cut end, one of the coil banded and one of the tag will answer most of the questions. Coil count and approximate remaining length finish it.