A thermoelectric powered digital scale has a weighing platform with an array of thermoelectric generator cells adapted to produce electrical energy when a hot or cold object is weighed. A switching network adaptively changes the electrical circuit topology of the thermoelectric generator cells between parallel, series, or a combination. A power management circuit is adapted to harvest electrical energy from the array of thermoelectric generator cells and adaptively provide power for operating the scale and for recharging the rechargeable battery. A thermal cooling element with a collection of fins is adapted to dissipate heat from the bottom side of the cells.