this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2024
118 points (96.8% liked)

What is this thing?

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Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

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[–] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 117 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

Sensor/thermal bulb from a capillary tube. Likely from a refrigerator.

[–] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 18 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Alright, thank you! 17 years of wondering are finally over.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You should still keep your piece of trash just for the memories, now.

[–] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 21 points 4 days ago

Of course! It is my most dearest piece of trash.

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 20 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

From a quick search, it is used to control the flow of refrigerant based on its temperature. The tube deforms based on how hot or cold the refrigerant is, and there are contacts on the tube to switches that permit or resrrict coolant flow

In other words, it's a simple thermostat

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 days ago
[–] Thorry84@feddit.nl 6 points 4 days ago

Just to add my 2 cents, it's more likely a filter/drier from a refrigerator. Those are much more common, even though a sensor/thermal bulb looks very similar.