Current Prices for Scrap Light Ballasts & Power Supplies in Virginia
National scrap prices for Light Ballasts & Power Supplies currently range from $0.15 to $0.30 per pound. Track real-time market shifts and find the most competitive scrap yards in in Virginia to maximize your return on electrical components.
Average Light Ballasts & Power Supplies Price
- Low (up to $0.10): Floor price, typically for small loads.
- Mid ($0.13): A fair deal for standard quantities.
- High ($0.15+): Top-dollar rate. Offered for large commercial loads or by the most competitive buyers.
Pricing verified from 3 live board rates today.
Top-Rated Scrap Yards Buying Light Ballasts & Power Supplies in Virginia
Local prices for electronic scrap can vary significantly based on yard inventory and regional demand. Use our tracked national benchmarks of $0.19/lb as a baseline, but always call ahead to in Virginia facilities to confirm their specific grading requirements for power supplies and non-PCB ballasts.
Three Rivers Iron Metal
C & C Cullet LLC
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🚀 List your scrap yard ⟶Comparing Light Ballast Value Against Similar Electronic Scrap
The #1 rule at scrap yards: if you mix grades, they’ll weigh everything at the lowest rate. See the price gap below — if you have higher-value metal, always sort and weigh each grade separately to avoid leaving money on the table.
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies: Historical Price Trends
This chart shows where the market is headed. If the line is climbing, prices are rising — you might get a better deal in a few days. If it’s dropping, don’t wait: sell today before yards lower their buy prices further.
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies: Scrap Yard Price vs. World Market (COMEX)
Avg scrap yard price
World market price (COMEX)
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies: Spread vs. Exchange — Monthly History
| Period | World price (per lb) | Scrap yard price (per lb) | Spread vs. exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 (current) | $5.764324 | $2.39 | -$3.38 (58.6%) |
| February 2026 | $5.880136 | $1.84 | -$4.04 (68.7%) |
| January 2026 | $5.894887 | $3.54 | -$2.36 (40%) |
| December 2025 | $5.497742 | $3.30 | -$2.20 (40%) |
| November 2025 | $5.064033 | $3.04 | -$2.03 (40%) |
| October 2025 | $5.050242 | $3.03 | -$2.02 (40%) |
| September 2025 | $4.662367 | $2.80 | -$1.87 (40%) |
| August 2025 | $4.477984 | $2.69 | -$1.79 (40%) |
| July 2025 | $5.482645 | $3.29 | -$2.19 (40%) |
| June 2025 | $4.883233 | $2.93 | -$1.95 (40%) |
| May 2025 | $4.686194 | $2.81 | -$1.87 (40%) |
| April 2025 | $4.654267 | $2.79 | -$1.86 (40%) |
| March 2025 | $4.919484 | $2.95 | -$1.97 (40%) |
| February 2025 | $4.558107 | $2.74 | -$1.82 (40%) |
| January 2025 | $4.269774 | $2.56 | -$1.71 (40%) |
| December 2024 | $4.157855 | $2.50 | -$1.66 (40%) |
| November 2024 | $4.199383 | $2.52 | -$1.68 (40%) |
| October 2024 | $4.431839 | $2.66 | -$1.77 (40%) |
| September 2024 | $4.292683 | $2.58 | -$1.72 (40%) |
| August 2024 | $4.121839 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| July 2024 | $4.375242 | $2.63 | -$1.75 (40%) |
| June 2024 | $4.491083 | $2.70 | -$1.80 (40%) |
| May 2024 | $4.75471 | $2.85 | -$1.90 (40%) |
| April 2024 | $4.363717 | $2.62 | -$1.74 (40%) |
| March 2024 | $3.983645 | $2.39 | -$1.59 (40%) |
| February 2024 | $3.801776 | $2.28 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| January 2024 | $3.811306 | $2.29 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| December 2023 | $3.871226 | $2.32 | -$1.55 (40%) |
| November 2023 | $3.720817 | $2.23 | -$1.49 (40%) |
| October 2023 | $3.609306 | $2.17 | -$1.44 (40%) |
| September 2023 | $3.759833 | $2.26 | -$1.50 (40%) |
| August 2023 | $3.776097 | $2.27 | -$1.51 (40%) |
| July 2023 | $3.8455 | $2.31 | -$1.54 (40%) |
| June 2023 | $3.804983 | $2.28 | -$1.52 (40%) |
| May 2023 | $3.751484 | $2.25 | -$1.50 (40%) |
| April 2023 | $4.007367 | $2.40 | -$1.60 (40%) |
| March 2023 | $4.02821 | $2.42 | -$1.61 (40%) |
| February 2023 | $4.06475 | $2.44 | -$1.63 (40%) |
| January 2023 | $4.115113 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| December 2022 | $3.820726 | $2.29 | -$1.53 (40%) |
| November 2022 | $3.674017 | $2.20 | -$1.47 (40%) |
| October 2022 | $3.430419 | $2.06 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| September 2022 | $3.455283 | $2.07 | -$1.38 (40%) |
| August 2022 | $3.616468 | $1.65 | -$1.97 (54.5%) |
| July 2022 | $3.4195 | $2.05 | -$1.37 (40%) |
| June 2022 | $4.118667 | $2.47 | -$1.65 (40%) |
| May 2022 | $4.257274 | $2.55 | -$1.70 (40%) |
| April 2022 | $4.649533 | $2.79 | -$1.86 (40%) |
| March 2022 | $4.707694 | $2.83 | -$1.88 (40%) |
| February 2022 | $4.502304 | $2.70 | -$1.80 (40%) |
| January 2022 | $4.4345 | $2.66 | -$1.77 (40%) |
| December 2021 | $4.332226 | $2.60 | -$1.73 (40%) |
| November 2021 | $4.367567 | $2.62 | -$1.75 (40%) |
| October 2021 | $4.432371 | $2.66 | -$1.77 (40%) |
| September 2021 | $4.2864 | $1.91 | -$2.38 (55.5%) |
| August 2021 | $4.302984 | $2.58 | -$1.72 (40%) |
| July 2021 | $4.347452 | $2.61 | -$1.74 (40%) |
| June 2021 | $4.388783 | $2.63 | -$1.76 (40%) |
| May 2021 | $4.618871 | $2.77 | -$1.85 (40%) |
| April 2021 | $4.192633 | $2.51 | -$1.68 (40%) |
| March 2021 | $4.084726 | $2.45 | -$1.63 (40%) |
| February 2021 | $3.861 | $2.32 | -$1.54 (40%) |
| January 2021 | $3.607435 | $1.63 | -$1.97 (54.7%) |
| December 2020 | $3.546903 | $2.13 | -$1.42 (40%) |
| November 2020 | $3.21755 | $1.44 | -$1.78 (55.3%) |
| October 2020 | $3.060177 | $1.84 | -$1.22 (40%) |
| September 2020 | $3.0352 | $1.82 | -$1.21 (40%) |
| August 2020 | $2.909726 | $1.32 | -$1.59 (54.7%) |
| July 2020 | $2.867581 | $1.72 | -$1.15 (40%) |
| June 2020 | $2.5983 | $1.56 | -$1.04 (40%) |
| May 2020 | $2.377403 | $1.43 | -$0.95 (40%) |
| April 2020 | $2.28595 | $1.37 | -$0.91 (40%) |
| March 2020 | $2.356968 | $1.41 | -$0.94 (40%) |
| February 2020 | $2.574707 | $1.54 | -$1.03 (40.1%) |
| January 2020 | $2.759935 | $1.66 | -$1.10 (40%) |
| December 2019 | $2.774145 | $1.27 | -$1.50 (54.1%) |
| November 2019 | $2.660717 | $1.60 | -$1.06 (40%) |
| October 2019 | $2.621613 | $1.57 | -$1.05 (40%) |
| September 2019 | $2.615533 | $1.57 | -$1.05 (40%) |
| August 2019 | $2.554 | $1.32 | -$1.23 (48.1%) |
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies Scrap Price History — Daily Data
A day-by-day market snapshot in exact numbers. Every day we aggregate buy prices from local scrap yards, recording the average, low, and high. Use this table to track real price movement over recent days.
| Date | Avg price (per lb) | Change | Range (Low/High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/17/2026 | $0.10 / lb | -$0.05 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 2/11/2026 | $0.15 / lb | +$0.05 | $0.15 - $0.15 |
| 8/10/2022 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 9/20/2021 | $0.08 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.08 - $0.08 |
| 1/20/2021 | $0.12 / lb | +$0.02 | $0.12 - $0.12 |
| 11/24/2020 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
| 8/8/2020 | $0.06 / lb | -$0.04 | $0.06 - $0.06 |
| 12/9/2019 | $0.10 / lb | +$0.04 | $0.10 - $0.10 |
Maximizing Profit on Light Ballasts & Power Supplies
In the world of electrical scrap, Light Ballasts & Power Supplies are the 'heavy hitters' that often get overlooked. While they don't command the high premiums of bare bright copper, their density makes them a steady earner for smart scrappers. Our data shows national averages hovering around $0.19 per pound, with a market spread of approximately 97.6% below COMEX copper benchmarks. Understanding exactly what's inside these heavy steel casings is the difference between getting paid for high-yield copper components or being downgraded to shred prices.
Yard Pro Tip: Always check the label for 'No PCBs.' Modern yards in Virginia generally won't touch older magnetic ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls due to environmental regulations. If the ballast is leaking oil or lacks the 'No PCBs' stamp, most buyers will reject the entire load to avoid hazardous waste fees.
Identifying High-Value Power Supplies
Not all power supplies are created equal. High-end server power supplies and specialized industrial units often contain higher-grade internal boards and more copper windings than standard consumer PC units. When sorting your load in in Virginia, look for units with heavy internal transformers. If you leave the wires attached, some yards may pay a slightly better 'complete unit' price, but usually, it is more profitable to snip the Insulated Copper Wire and sell it separately, leaving the power supply housing to be graded as a standard unit.
Avoiding Costly Grading Mistakes
The biggest mistake a peddler can make is mixing these units with heavier, lower-value iron. If you toss your ballasts into a bin of Aluminum & Steel Transformers, you are looking at a potential loss of $0.00 per pound. While they look similar, ballasts are often priced higher because of their specific copper-to-steel ratio. Keep your light ballasts, computer power supplies, and small transformers separated into distinct crates to ensure the scale operator gives you the correct ticker price.
| Component Type | Typical Prep Strategy | Value Category |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Ballasts | Remove from fixture, snip wires | Medium Yield |
| PC Power Supplies | Keep housing intact, snip external wires | Standard Grade |
| Magnetic Ballasts | Verify 'No PCB' label, keep whole | High Density |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my power supplies being downgraded to iron?
If the yard sees too much plastic casing or heavy steel mounting brackets that aren't part of the actual unit, they may downgrade the load. To get the $0.30 top-tier price, ensure you've stripped the units from their original oversized housings or light fixtures.
Should I break open the ballasts to get the copper wire inside?
Generally, no. Most modern ballasts are 'potted,' meaning the internals are encased in a hard resin or tar-like substance to dampen noise. Trying to chip that out is a mess and rarely worth the labor. It's almost always better to sell them as whole units for the $0.19 average rate.
How does the copper market affect ballast prices?
Because these units derive their value from the copper windings inside, their price is tethered to COMEX. When copper spot prices rise, you'll see a corresponding bump in what buyers offer for ballasts, though there is a lag as yards adjust for processing costs.
Light Ballasts & Power Supplies scrap prices in Virginia on the map
The map shows cities in Virginia with Light Ballasts & Power Supplies scrap prices. Click a marker or pick a city in the list below to see Light Ballasts & Power Supplies prices in that location.