The Electrical skill

Electrical lets you run generators, hotwire cars, build radios and rig traps and bombs. This page covers how to level it, the books and magazines, and what each job gives you. Updated for Build 42.21 Stable and 42.22 Pre-Release, November 2026.

A generator running — Electrical keeps the lights on · Official image, The Indie Stone

01Part

Fastest XP

Action	Base XP
Dismantle a TV, radio, walkie-talkie or ham radio	10 each
Dismantle small electronics (camera, watch, flashlight)	2
Dismantle CD player, home alarm, TV remote, speaker	2
Dismantle a power bar	1
Scrap electric furniture or appliances	5 / 10 / 15 by size
Repair a generator with Electronics Scrap	5 per scrap
Make an improvised flashlight or lantern	10
Make an improvised battery lighter	5
Make a makeshift radio / walkie-talkie / ham radio	10 / 20 / 30

One 42.19 guide (one source). You need an unbroken screwdriver, which you keep; the electronic item is destroyed. Unlike Carpentry, scrapping still gives Electrical XP on the default settings.

02Part

Books

Book	Levels	Pages	XP multiplier
Electrical I: Basic Electronics	1 to 2	220	x3
Electrical II: Kentucky AV Guide ’93	3 to 4	260	x5
Electrical III: Practical Wiring Guide	5 to 6	300	x8
Electrical IV: Telecommunications in the 20th Century	7 to 8	340	x12
Electrical V: Understanding Integrated Controls for Electronic Systems	9 to 10	380	x16

Switch books at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9. More on skill books.

03Part

Recipe magazines

Magazine	Unlocks
Zapper! (Electronics 1)	Remote controller V1 to V3, remote trigger, adding a trigger to a bomb
Like Clockwork (Electronics 2)	Timer, adding a timer to a bomb
Home Security Monthly (Electronics 3)	Adding motion sensors V1 to V3 to a bomb
How to Use Generators (Electronics 4)	Generator knowledge
Sparky’s Lighting Guide (Electronics 5)	Improvised flashlight and lantern
Real Spy Secrets, June 1993	Noise maker, firecracker
Guerilla Radio, June 1993	Makeshift radio (Electrical 1)
Sparky’s Radio Guide	Makeshift walkie-talkie (Electrical 2)
Guerilla Radio, May 1993	Makeshift ham radio (Electrical 3)

Radios are covered on radio and walkie-talkies, generators on generators.

04Part

Jobs and hotwiring

Electrician (−2 points): Electrical 5, +125% XP, generator knowledge, remotes, triggers, timers, makeshift radios and improvised lights.
Engineer (−4 points): Electrical 1, +75% XP, Carpentry 1 and Masonry 1, generator knowledge, improvised lights and several bomb recipes.

Hotwiring needs Electrical 1 and Mechanics 2, or the Burglar job. A generator repair with Electronics Scrap restores about 4 plus half your Electrical level in condition (one source). Cars are on mechanics.

05Part

Unlocks by level

Level	Unlocks (pindrop.gg)
3	Lights
4	Improvised screwdriver
5	Lighter
6	Makeshift radio
7	Walkie-talkie, noise maker
8	Ham radio, timers
9 to 10	Longer-range remotes

Conflict: PZFans data lists makeshift radio, walkie and ham radio at Electrical 1, 2 and 3, not 6, 7 and 8. Check your in-game recipe list; the numbers may differ between 42.21 and 42.22.

VHS: Electrical tapes give 900 XP in total.

06Part

Quick answers

What is the fastest way to level Electrical?

Dismantle TVs, radios and walkie-talkies with a screwdriver: 10 XP each, multiplied by the matching book.

Do I need Electrical to use a generator?

You need generator knowledge: the How to Use Generators magazine, or the Electrician or Engineer job.

What level do I need to hotwire a car?

Electrical 1 and Mechanics 2, or the Burglar job.

Does dismantling still give Electrical XP in Build 42?

Yes, unlike Carpentry.

XP values and recipes come from one Build 42.19 guide and are marked. Sources: PZFans Electrical. Your game is the final word: if it disagrees with us, tell us and we will fix the page.