Electrical in Project Zomboid (Build 42)
Electrical is a Crafting skill. Taking it from 0 to 10 costs 32,775 XP before multipliers — 5 skill books multiply what you earn on the way; the Electrician occupation starts with 5 levels, and it unlocks 18 recipes.
From the Build 42 dedicated server's files (depot manifest of 23 Sept 2026).
XP for each level
Level 10 alone costs 9,000 XP — 27% of the total.
XP needed for each level
| Level | XP for this level | Total XP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75 | 75 |
| 2 | 150 | 225 |
| 3 | 300 | 525 |
| 4 | 750 | 1,275 |
| 5 | 1,500 | 2,775 |
| 6 | 3,000 | 5,775 |
| 7 | 4,500 | 10,275 |
| 8 | 6,000 | 16,275 |
| 9 | 7,500 | 23,775 |
| 10 | 9,000 | 32,775 |
What you actually earn is scaled first. Starting with no levels in Electrical cuts every gain to ×0.25; a starting +1 is ×1, +2 ×1.33 and +3 or more ×1.66. Fast Learner adds ×1.3, Slow Learner ×0.7. How the multipliers work.
Electrical skill books
Reading a volume multiplies the Electrical XP you earn while your level is inside its range: every tenth of the book read adds a tenth of the multiplier. The game lets you open a volume from one level below its range, and not once you are past it (ISReadABook.lua).
Electrical IV: "Telecommunications in the 20th Century"
- Levels
- 7–8
- Pages
- 340
- XP up to
- ×12
Electrical V: "Understanding Integrated Controls for Electronic Systems"
- Levels
- 9–10
- Pages
- 380
- XP up to
- ×16
Multipliers from the game's skill-book table (lua/server/XpSystem/XPSystem_SkillBook.lua); “where it spawns” opens the map's item finder on the loot tables.
Start with Electrical
Levels a new character gets in Electrical — and, through them, a faster XP rate (see above):
- Electricianoccupation · +5
- Engineeroccupation · +1
Electrical from TV and VHS
3 VHS tapes give 900 XP. Both stop counting once the skill reaches level 3 in the default sandbox settings, and before the multipliers above. Shows and tapes, by name.
Recipes you learn by levelling Electrical
Reaching the level teaches the recipe — no magazine needed.
- Lv 3
Make Improvised Flashlight - Lv 3
Make Improvised Lantern - Lv 4
Make Improvised Screwdriver - Lv 5
Make Improvised Lighter - Lv 6
Make Makeshift Radio - Lv 7
Make Makeshift Walkie Talkie - Lv 7
Make Noise Maker - Lv 8Add Remote Trigger to Bomb
- Lv 8Add Short-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb
- Lv 8Add Timer to Bomb
- Lv 8
Make Makeshift Ham Radio - Lv 8
Make Remote Controller (Short-Range) - Lv 8
Make Remote Trigger - Lv 8
Make Timer - Lv 9Add Medium-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb
- Lv 9
Make Remote Controller (Medium-Range) - Lv 10Add Long-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb
- Lv 10
Make Remote Controller (Long-Range)
What Electrical unlocks (15)
Crafting and building recipes that need a Electrical level. “Must be learned” recipes also need a magazine, a TV show or an occupation that teaches them.
| Level | Recipe | Also needs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Make Improvised Flashlightmust be learned | — |
| 1 |  Make Improvised Lanternmust be learned | — |
| 1 |  Make Makeshift Radiomust be learned | — |
| 1 |  Make Timermust be learned | — |
| 2 | Add Remote Trigger to Bombmust be learned | — |
| 2 | Add Short-Range Motion Sensor to Bombmust be learned | — |
| 2 |  Make Makeshift Walkie Talkiemust be learned | — |
| 2 |  Make Remote Controller (Short-Range)must be learned | — |
| 2 |  Make Remote Triggermust be learned | — |
| 3 |  Make Makeshift Ham Radiomust be learned | — |
| 3 |  Make Noise Makermust be learned | — |
| 4 | Add Medium-Range Motion Sensor to Bombmust be learned | — |
| 4 |  Make Remote Controller (Medium-Range)must be learned | — |
| 6 | Add Long-Range Motion Sensor to Bombmust be learned | — |
| 6 |  Make Remote Controller (Long-Range)must be learned | — |
Recipes that train Electrical
22 recipes award Electrical XP when made; the most per craft (base XP):
- Make Makeshift Ham Radio · 30 XP
- Make Makeshift Walkie Talkie · 20 XP
- Add Long-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb · 14 XP
- Make Remote Controller (Long-Range) · 14 XP
- Add Medium-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb · 10 XP
Dismantle Electronic Device · 10 XP- Make Improvised Flashlight · 10 XP
- Make Improvised Lantern · 10 XP
- Make Makeshift Radio · 10 XP
- Make Remote Controller (Medium-Range) · 10 XP
- Make Noise Maker · 8 XP
- Add Remote Trigger to Bomb · 6 XP
- Add Short-Range Motion Sensor to Bomb · 6 XP
- Make Remote Controller (Short-Range) · 6 XP
- Make Remote Trigger · 6 XP
- Make Improvised Lighter · 5 XP
More skills
Carpentry32,775 XP to 10
Carving32,775 XP to 10
Cooking32,775 XP to 10
Glassmaking32,775 XP to 10
Knapping32,775 XP to 10
Masonry32,775 XP to 10
Blacksmithing32,775 XP to 10
Mechanics32,775 XP to 10
Pottery32,775 XP to 10
Tailoring32,775 XP to 10
Welding32,775 XP to 10- All skills →35 in Build 42
- /addxp and other commandsAdmin commands
Pictures: item and trait icons and the health-panel figure are The Indie Stone's game art; item renders and shop signs are from PZwiki (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0).
Project Zomboid is a game by The Indie Stone. PinDrop is fan-made and not affiliated with The Indie Stone.