Open with Care: the Classic Thermapen Battery Cover

We recently got a tweet expressing some frustration about opening the battery cover on the new Splash-Proof Super-Fast^® Thermapen^®:

It is true that the battery covers on the new Thermapen models are a little harder to open than they used to be. That’s because a tight fit and an o-ring seal keep the new battery cover up to specifications for the new “splash-proof” feature.

That said, it’s actually quite easy to open the battery cover (which, of course, is where the customization tools are also located—see Customizing Your Thermapen). But it takes the right tool and a little bit of care.

The right tool is actually a US quarter…

A quarter fits perfectly in the slot and provides just enough leverage to slide the battery cover and o-ring against the base of the Thermapen.

Using a tool like a screw driver can dig into and damage the plastic, particularly if you’re not careful. Too much force can also break the tabs off the bottom of the cover, which are sturdy but made of molded plastic. Without the tabs, the Thermapen battery cover will not close again without repair. Above are some examples of Thermapen covers that were not treated with care!

So, to properly open the Thermapen battery compartment, get yourself one of those nifty quarter things and, applying firm but even pressure, rotate the battery cover to the left about half an inch (one centimeter) in alignment with the markings on the tail of the Thermapen. Be careful not to force the battery cover beyond its natural rotation as this will break those molded plastic tabs.

Then, using the side of the quarter (or your fingernail) against the side of the Thermapen battery cover, gently press and lift the cover out of its opening and, voilà, you are ready to replace your batteries or use the customization controls.

To replace the battery cover, simply press the cover back into the opening, being careful to align the slot on cover with the “open” position marking on the tail of the Thermapen (the tabs will slide into openings of their own). Then, applying that same firm, even pressure, rotate the battery cover to the closed position.

It’s that simple. Oh, and don’t forget that if you accidentally break those tabs or damage your battery cover, we stock plenty of replacement battery covers in every color! Just email us at service@thermoworks.com and we’ll take care of you (just like we did for @FwoodQue).