The Current Converter in the game Probably Stolen offers an alternative to powering machines with rechargeable Energy Cells. That sounds convenient, but it introduces an electricity bill and has caused problems for players using certain power upgrades. Understanding those limitations is important before replacing your batteries.
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How to Use the Current Converter
Electricity Costs Explained
Current Converter Not Working
Where to Get a Current Converter
Current Converter vs. Energy Cells
How to Use the Current Converter in Probably Stolen
To use a Current Converter, insert it into a machine's battery slot instead of an Energy Cell. The converter draws electricity from the Lower Levels' power grid, allowing the machine to operate without relying on a battery's remaining charge.
- Obtain a Current Converter from Dr. Jackson or another available source.
- Open the interface of the machine you want to power.
- Remove its existing Energy Cell if one is installed.
- Place the Current Converter into the machine's power slot.
- Make sure the converter is enabled and its electricity service is available.
- Advance overnight and check whether the machine completed its work.
A Current Converter powers the machine it's installed in. It does not automatically provide electricity to every machine in your shop.
For example, installing a converter in a Water Purifier won't eliminate the need to power your other equipment separately.
The main advantage is that the converter doesn't gradually run out of charge like an ordinary Energy Cell. However, that convenience comes with an important tradeoff.
Does the Current Converter Use Electricity or Cost Credits?
The Current Converter uses grid electricity, and that electricity has an ongoing service cost.
Instead of managing battery charge, you're paying for the power consumed by the connected machine. The converter itself doesn't make electricity free.
This becomes increasingly important when running several high-consumption machines.
Why Multiple Converters Can Become Expensive
Using a converter on one machine may be convenient, particularly if it saves you from repeatedly swapping Energy Cells.
But installing converters throughout your shop can create a substantial recurring expense.
One player reported electricity bills exceeding 200 Credits per night while operating five or six converters alongside power upgrades. That's an individual setup rather than a universal cost, but it demonstrates how quickly the expense can grow.
At 200 Credits per night, ten nights of operation would consume 2,000 Credits in electricity payments alone.
That calculation doesn't include the original cost of obtaining the converters or the materials used by the machines.
I'd avoid replacing every Energy Cell immediately. Start with equipment where uninterrupted operation is genuinely useful, then compare the convenience against your actual electricity expenses.
Why Is the Current Converter Not Working?
If your machine fails to run overnight despite having a Current Converter installed, first check whether the converter is enabled and whether your current electricity setup can supply it.
There is also a known issue involving the Power Line Hijack upgrade.
Current Converter and Power Line Hijack
Power Line Hijack is an upgrade associated with avoiding ordinary electricity payments. That creates a conflict with the Current Converter, which relies on its own paid electricity service.
Players have reported that machines using a converter can fail to operate when Power Line Hijack is active, even though the same machines work with ordinary Energy Cells.
The developer acknowledged this interaction as an oversight on October 30, 2026, and indicated that a correction was planned.
Because the available information doesn't establish whether that correction has already been released, this issue should be treated as potentially version-dependent.
What to Check if Your Machine Didn't Run
- Open the machine and confirm the Current Converter is installed in its power slot.
- Check whether the converter is enabled. Players have noted that it can be toggled on or off.
- Check whether Power Line Hijack is active in your current playthrough.
- If the machine still fails overnight, try replacing the converter with a charged Energy Cell.
- Compare the result after another overnight processing cycle.
Testing with an Energy Cell helps isolate the issue. If the machine works with a battery but not with the converter, the problem may be related to its electricity connection rather than the machine's production requirements.
There are conflicting player experiences about whether enabling the converter resolves the Power Line Hijack issue. Until its behavior is confirmed for your game version, ordinary Energy Cells are the more dependable fallback.
Where to Get a Current Converter in Probably Stolen
Dr. Jackson is one source of Current Converters, and the item can also appear in several locked supply containers.
Its listed base value is 300 Credits, although that shouldn't be confused with a guaranteed purchase price from every seller.
Known acquisition sources include:
- Dr. Jackson's inventory.
- Security Department Supply Crates, opened using a Disposable Keycard (Security).
- Engineering Foundry Supply Crates, opened using a Disposable Keycard (Engineering).
- Security Department Evidence Lockers, associated with the relevant Security access.
- Service Department Supply Crates, associated with the relevant Service access.
Not every source guarantees a converter on every visit or opening, so availability may depend on the items you encounter.
Another possible way to obtain Current Converters is through Serpico's surviving storyline, where two converters are among the available equipment rewards.
If you're already approaching that decision, our Serpico guide covers the rescue requirements and reward tradeoffs.
Is the Current Converter Better Than Energy Cells?
Neither power option is automatically better for every shop. Their advantages depend on whether you're trying to reduce maintenance, conserve electricity spending, or operate multiple machines.
| Power Method | Main Advantage | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Current Converter | No conventional battery charging cycle | Ongoing electricity charges |
| Energy Cell | Works with battery charging equipment and upgrades | Charge must be maintained |
| Energy Cell With PowerBloc Support | Can reduce reliance on paid grid power | Requires additional equipment and space |
When Is a Current Converter Worth Using?
The converter is most attractive when battery maintenance is interrupting production.
For example, a machine that needs to operate regularly may benefit from a continuous power connection if you don't have enough charging capacity to keep its Energy Cells ready.
However, expensive electricity usage can reduce or eliminate the value gained from running that machine.
This is particularly important for machines with higher power requirements, since their electricity costs can accumulate over many nights.
When Should You Keep Using Batteries?
Energy Cells become more attractive when you've already invested in charging equipment, PowerBlocs, or self-charging batteries.
These setups can help reduce your dependence on paid grid electricity, although they require equipment investment and inventory space.
A player comparing both approaches reported earning more after moving much of their shop's power demand away from Current Converters and toward PowerBlocs.
That's not proof that converters are universally unprofitable, but it highlights the importance of checking ongoing operating expenses rather than judging equipment only by its convenience.
Should You Sell an Unused Current Converter?
If you decide that paid electricity doesn't suit your shop, a Current Converter may still have resale value.
The Merchant and Lower Level Inventor are listed as possible buyers, although actual buying opportunities aren't guaranteed.
Some players have reported difficulty selling converters after completing the shop purchase progression, so don't assume you'll always be able to recover the item's full value later.
For most playthroughs, I'd recommend keeping Current Converters for machines where continuous power provides a clear benefit, rather than treating them as an automatic upgrade over every Energy Cell.
Before installing several converters, compare your overnight electricity bill with the cost and inconvenience of maintaining batteries. That simple comparison will tell you whether the convenience is worth paying for in your particular setup.
