Many companies that offer cordsets, receptacles and other power cords and accessories also offer simple bulk wire. There are a number of situations in which access to bulk wire without plugs could be desirable, though companies that make or sell power transmission cords tend to emphasize cordsets in their product lines. Seeing why bulk wire could be more desirable than cordsets, though, can be easier if you imagine a scenario where this would be the case.

In fact, there are several scenarios in which access to bulk wire would be beneficial. Imagine that you are a construction contractor in charge of installing electrical wiring in an office building. How annoying would it be if power cord manufacturers and distributors only made cordsets available? If this were the case, you would have to string together many series of extension cords and use those as permanent wiring in your project. Such contracting jobs often don’t even need access to wiring with plugs. That kind of wiring is usually connected to mains boards and wall receptacles; plugs don’t enter into the equation when it comes to wiring embedded in walls.

Another possible scenario in which access to bulk wiring might be useful would be in theatre and concert set design. In such contexts, set designers and technicians often need access to wiring solutions that must be made to custom specifications. Because some theatre and concert venue technical staff are also trained as electricians, they are often equipped to cut wiring to length and affix it with special plugs for use in lighting, special effects and other applications. In such scenarios, it could be counter-productive to be forced to deal with power cords of standard lengths and plug configurations. Instead, access to bulk wire gives them the flexibility to make the equipment they need according to their own specifications. These are just a few of the examples in which access to bulk wire can be beneficial within industrial and commercial contexts.