OVERVIEW:
When the plastic battery door latch on my Zoom F1 broke, I was almost ready to stop recommending this budget field recorder on my website (where I have a database of CUSTOM SETTINGS for budget filmmaking AUDIO gear). My first response was to grab a strip of my trusty Gaffer Power #ad gaff tape to get it working (it won't power on if the door is open). I put off dealing with it for a bit (as all good creative procrastinators do) until I remembered I had purchased the Zoom F1 at Sweetwater.com and their service department is pretty good. So, I gave them a call, they called Zoom (directly, I guess) and within the week, a little padded envelope arrived. When I looked inside, I was stoked. Inside the envelope was 2 new battery doors (yes, 2) with re-designed METAL LATCHES! I was impressed that Zoom actually recognized the weakness of the product, and re-manufactured the battery doors. My faith in Zoom was restored...and then I tried to install the new battery door, myself.
ABOVE: Zoom fixed the battery cover issue of the Zoom F1 #ad ! They actually changed the design from being a plastic battery latch TO A METAL ONE (see picture above)! I called Sweetwater.com (where I bought it) after my original plastic battery door latch broke (after very little use) and they contacted Zoom, who mailed a replacement part in a few days!
IS A BROKEN BATTERY COVER A BIG DEAL?
If the battery cover on your Zoom F1 breaks you're out of luck, because it won't power on without the door closing. I do recommend doing a quick fix with black Gaffer Power gaff tape but this isn't a very convenient long-term solution. The good news is, Zoom has re-designed the battery door with a metal latch, and they will send you a new one for free. Even better, if you bought it through Sweetwater they'll contact Zoom for you, and you'll get a replacement part in a few days (depending on where you live). However, before you decide to install this yourself, let me just say that my first recommendation is you send the unit in to Zoom (so they can do it). It's not easy, and I am quite surprised I was able to do it (I'm not very good with things like this). If you want to give it a try, expect it to take 2 or 3 hours...and then get ready to get something wrong, and have to do it all over (several times).
How To Replace the Battery Cover:
STEP 1 CONTACT ZOOM (OR SWEETWATER*)
If you purchased your Zoom F1 at Sweetwater.com the first step would be to call their customer service line at (800) 222-4700 or you can contact Zoom directly, either using their "Contact" page (depending where you live) or by emailing them at: info@zoom-na.com
ABOVE: Go to zoomcorp.com/en/us/contact/ to contact Zoom directly, or you could contact Sweetwater if you purchased it there (but I'm not sure if they can help if you didn't, etc.)
STEP 2 ZOOM WILL MAIL YOU THE PART(S)
The great thing about buying this through Sweetwater was that when I called them about the problem, they contacted Zoom, explained the problem, gave them my mailing address, had the part shipped to me within the week. I can't say how fast you'll get a response if you contact Zoom directly, but either way I think the best way to fix this issue is by getting the new (metal latch) version of the battery cover from Zoom.
ABOVE: Zoom Corp. sent me the new (metal latch) battery door cover for free (actually two) which I received in a matter of days after talking to Sweetwater's service department.
STEP 3 REMOVE THE OLD DOOR (TWO SCREWS)
This is the easiest part of the whole process (of course) and as soon as you see all the pieces inside the battery door, you know how difficult the rest of the process is going to be.
ABOVE: You can see where the old (plastic version) of the battery door latch broke off and is missing (to right of screwdriver head). This first step was easy (getting the old door off) but the next number of steps almost made me send it in to Zoom (which is what I recommend).
STEP 4 TAKE APART THE NEW ONE (EASY)
Before we take this next step, let me repeat that my first recommendation is that you send the unit in to Zoom so they can do the service on it. Like I said before, it's not easy, and I am quite surprised I was able to do it. However, if you still want to give it a try, I would budget about 2 or 3 hours for the process...and prepare to get things wrong and have to do the whole thing over, about 2 or 3 times. This first step is the easiest, but there's no going back after you start (unless you send it to Zoom after you get tired of working on it).
ABOVE: Here are all of the included parts, and the new metal latch is shown at right.
STEP 5 PUT IT BACK TOGETHER (NOT EASY)
So, here's where the REAL fun begins. I warn you that these pictures make it look easier than it actually is, so don't expect to be able to get this right the first time (it took me about 3 times, with 30-minute breaks in-between...to keep from getting discouraged).
ABOVE: The first step is to set up that little springy thingy exactly as you see it here (the left arm of the spring goes in a slot between some plastic tabs, and the right side of the spring needs to be partially tensioned (cocked) as it sits against a slot on the right.
ABOVE: This next step is very tricky (not that the last one wasn't). You have to pull that metal tether thing out of the battery bay, over the metal bar (the belt slot of the recorder) and onto a little tab inside the door (it's very difficult)! It takes a very delicate touch, and multiple tries.
ABOVE: Now comes the part that you won't get right the first time, and will realize that you have to do it all over again. Without moving that delicate metal tether thing off the little slot, take the black plastic plate, and place it on top of the whole thing (the trick is, you have to maintain pressure on it the whole time [with a tool or your finger] or the metal tether will move off the slot). Okay, once you've got it, don't move.
ABOVE: This is the last difficult step (and maybe the most important). It's where you insert the new metal latch (shown by red arrow) into a slot, and make sure it pushes against that little springy thing we set up at the beginning. This step is very difficult to explain...what you're doing is making one side of the latch push against that spring, so it becomes "spring loaded". Again, you probably won't get this right the first time you try, and you'll find out if it worked after you finish the next step.
ABOVE: Once the new metal latch has been added, you can put the two screws back in (but make sure to KEEP APPLYING PRESSURE to the top of it, until the screws are back in...or that springy thing inside (and/or the metal tether) may move...and you'll have to start all over.
ABOVE: Here is what it looks like when you're all done! Make sure the metal latch works (and can be pushed either right or left to lock or unlock the battery door). Again, don't get discouraged if you don't get this right the first time. I had to completely start over (at least) three times before it worked.
CONCLUSION:
I must say that dealing with this battery door was quite a ride. First, there was the disappointment of the (original plastic) latch breaking and me wondering if Zoom would even have a fix for it. Then, there was the joy of remembering that I had purchased it from Sweetwater (who has a 2-year guarantee) and the interesting feelings I had when they told me Zoom was sending me replacement parts (I had anticipated a full replacement but didn't know what to expect with replacement parts). Then the exhilaration of seeing that they had re-designed the door with A METAL LATCH...but then the pain of installing it myself. If you're still reading this...I should say again: just send it in to Zoom if you can...it is not any fun to install it yourself.
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