Jun
07
2010
In a ethernet cable, how much, by weight is copper, and how much is the plastic sleave?
Posted by admin in Question & Answers, tags: cable, Copper, ethernet, much, plastic, sleave, weighti have loads of ethernet cables that i got £1000 per ton from a scrap dealer last time i sold them. This time i am thinking of stripping the cables so i have pure copper wire, but im not sure if its worth it. Obviously its going to take a long time, and i dont mind that, but i dont know if i would actually get any more money after i lose the weight of the plastics.
So do you think the weight of the cable will be 10% copper wire, or 70% wire, or what?
thanks for your answers :-)
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I would reckon about 70% wire. Big job to strip – is it worth the time and effort?
Commercial machine here
http://www.cogelme.com/eng/cable-weee-recycling-wire-stripper.htm?gclid=CLrE8q_xrZ8CFWlr4wod_3Hd1A
I would lean more toward 10% copper (24 ga) and 90% plastic insulating material. If you want bare copper, you’ll have to strip the sheath around the wire bundle PLUS strip the insulation from each of the 8 wires. 24 ga wire is about 1.2 lb per 300 meters. So, with the 8 conductors, you’ll net about 9.6 lbs of copper.
The scrap dealer may not be scraping out the wire but reselling it. It would have more value.