Electron Charge Pack (Fallout: New Vegas)

The electron charge pack is a type of ammunition in Fallout: New Vegas.

Characteristics
These small electron batteries are used as ammunition by several energy weapons. Unlike energy cells and microfusion cells, they are used to power rapid-firing energy weapons, as well as Tesla weaponry.

Recycling
After firing, there is a chance that spent electron charge packs will turn into drained electron charge packs. These are automatically turned into a miscellaneous item and placed into the player character's inventory. Drained electron charge packs can then be recycled back into usable electron charge packs at a workbench.

¹ Due to the Vigilant Recycler perk having Science 70 as a prerequisite, efficient recycling can not be made at the skill level set.

Conversion (type)
Electron charge packs can be converted into, and from, other energy weapon ammunition types (i.e. energy cells and microfusion cells) at a workbench, with the appropriate Science skill.

Conversion (variant)
The player character can also combine partially charged cells together to make more powerful variants that improve damage and bypass more enemy DT but will burn out the weapon's components faster.

¹ Due to the Vigilant Recycler perk having Science 70 as a prerequisite, none of the optimized recipes can be made at the skill level set.

Weapons using this ammunition

 * Arc welder
 * Gatling laser
 * Sprtel-Wood 9700 (GRA)
 * Laser RCW
 * Tesla cannon
 * Elijah's jury-rigged Tesla cannon
 * Tesla-Beaton prototype

Electron charge pack, bulk
Bulk electron charge packs are less potent than the standard version but are cheaper to purchase. The reduced charge results in only 85% of normal weapon damage and no Damage Threshold negation (standard electron charge packs negate 2 points), but also reduces the strain on the weapon as well, reducing weapon degradation rate to 85% of normal. The bulk design also means a significantly reduced chance of recovering a drained electron charge pack (only 15% compared to the standard 35%).

Electron charge pack, over charge
This ammunition is more powerful than standard electron charge packs. It increases the damage output of weapons by 25% and has a -5 Damage Threshold effect on enemies (standard electron charge packs give -2 to DT), but degrades weapons 50% faster than normal and only has a 20% chance to recover a drained electron charge pack (the normal recovery rate is 35%).

Electron charge pack, max charge
This is the most powerful of the electron charge pack variants. Max charge electron charge packs increase weapon damage output to 1.5 times normal and have an armor-piercing effect of -10 Damage Threshold but causes weapons to degrade at 2.5 times the normal rate and drained electron charge packs can only be recovered 5% of the time.

Electron charge pack, optimized
Added in the Gun Runners' Arsenal add-on, the optimized electron charge pack causes 30% more damage, has an armor-piercing effect of -5 Damage Threshold and weighs only 60% of the weight of all other electron charge packs in Hardcore mode. A drained electron charge pack can be recovered at the same rate as standard ammunition (35%). The only drawback is a 10% increase in weapon degradation. It requires Vigilant Recycler and can only be crafted at a workbench. This type of electron charge pack is superior in all properties compared to overcharged electron charge packs.

Locations

 * Hidden Valley bunker - If the player character reaches Accepted status or higher with the Brotherhood of Steel, they will be approached by a BoS initiate saying that they have placed recycled ammunition in a box at the bottom of the entrance stairs to the L1 area. The box will be replenished randomly with electron charge packs, microfusion cells, and small energy cells, providing a continuous supply of energy weapons ammunition.
 * Fiends around Vault 3 and Westside usually have electron charge packs or their drained variant if they have a laser RCW. Sometimes it may also be found on Fiends who lack any compatible weapons.
 * The Great Khan armorer sells bulk, overcharge, and standard electron charge packs.