What is a Power Cable?

The Power Cable is a Rare item in Arc Raiders. Its main use is for crafting and upgrading equipment in the Workshop. You can recycle it into basic materials like Wires, which are in turn used to craft more advanced items.

It’s important to understand that while the Power Cable itself is valuable, its real utility comes from recycling it or using it in workshop recipes. In practice, most players keep a few on hand rather than hoarding them, since they’re moderately rare and easy to replace through scavenging.

Where Can You Find Power Cables?

Power Cables appear primarily in the following environments:

• Electrical zones – these are the most reliable spots. Check near control panels, generators, and power conduits.

• Residential areas – scavenging in apartments and houses often yields one or two. Focus on high-density living areas.

• Commercial zones – stores, warehouses, and offices occasionally drop Power Cables, though the spawn rate is lower than in Electrical zones.

In practice, players tend to rotate between Electrical and Residential zones to maximize efficiency. Some players also trade with others or use the in-game market to “buy arc raiders items fast delivery” if they need Power Cables immediately without spending time scavenging. This is especially useful if you’re planning a workshop upgrade and are short on materials.

How Many Power Cables Can You Carry?

The standard stack size for Power Cables is 3, with each weighing 2 units. In practical terms, this means you can carry a few without overloading your inventory, but if you’re planning a scavenger run, it’s wise to plan how many you’ll need for crafting versus recycling.

Recycling and Salvaging Power Cables

One of the key uses of Power Cables is recycling. Here’s how it works in practice:

• Recycling a Power Cable gives you 4 Wires.

• Salvaging a Power Cable gives you 3 Wires.

From experience, most players prefer recycling because it yields slightly more resources. Salvaging is generally done when you need materials immediately and don’t have time for recycling or when you want a quick gain without sending the item to the Workshop first.

Using Power Cables in Workshop Upgrades

The Workshop uses Power Cables as a component in several upgrade paths. A common example is the Gear Bench 1 → Gear Bench 2 upgrade:

• Requirements:

  • 3× Power Cable

  • 5× Electrical Components

  • 5× Hornet Drivers

If you’re aiming for this upgrade, it’s crucial to plan scavenging runs to collect multiple Power Cables in a single session. Players often underestimate how quickly Power Cables can be consumed, so having extras can save multiple trips.

How to Optimize Your Collection

From actual gameplay, here are some tips that make collecting Power Cables more efficient:

1. Target the right areas: Rotate between Electrical and Residential zones, focusing on rooms with multiple panels or wiring clusters.

2. Scavenge in batches: Collect everything you find in a zone before moving on. Even if you don’t immediately need all items, recycling later is easy.

3. Prioritize recycling over selling: The extra Wires you get can be critical for mid-game crafting. Selling a Power Cable for coins rarely outweighs the value of the materials.

4. Keep a small reserve: Since Power Cables are Rare, having a stockpile of 3–5 for emergency upgrades prevents frustrating delays.

Common Questions from the Community

Q: Can Power Cables be crafted? A: No, Power Cables are scavenged items. You can’t craft them directly, but you can recycle other items into Wires, which feed into more complex crafting later.

Q: Are Power Cables worth holding onto? A: Yes, but don’t hoard them. Keep a small stockpile for Workshop upgrades or recycling. Most players find 3–6 in inventory is enough for practical purposes.

Q: What’s the best way to get a Power Cable quickly? A: If scavenging isn’t an option or you need one immediately, trading or using the market to buy arc raiders items fast delivery is the fastest way. Otherwise, Electrical zones offer the highest chance of drops.

Q: Is salvaging better than recycling? A: Usually, no. Recycling gives you an extra Wire per Power Cable. Salvaging is only worth it if you need the material instantly or can’t access a recycling station.

Power Cables are small but essential pieces of the Arc Raiders crafting system. Understanding where to find them, how to recycle them efficiently, and how they fit into Workshop upgrades will save you time and frustration. Most experienced players focus on scavenging strategically, recycling efficiently, and keeping a small reserve for upgrades. If you’re running low, the market can be a good fallback to maintain progress without waiting through multiple scavenging runs.

With these tips, you’ll rarely find yourself stuck waiting for Power Cables, and your Workshop upgrades will proceed more smoothly.

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