120
top 22 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 115 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

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

[-] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago

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

[-] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 12 points 1 week ago
[-] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

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 1 week ago

Wow, that’s pretty clever.

[-] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

Physics, yo

[-] Thorry84@feddit.nl 6 points 1 week 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.

[-] CM400@lemmy.world 48 points 1 week ago

It looks similar to part of the cooling system on the back of my refrigerator.

[-] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago

Another picture to have an idea about the size of it.

[-] VubDapple@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago

It's conventional to use a banana for scale, but a hand will do in a pinch I guess.

[-] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 week ago

That hand is, in fact, in a pinch, so we have no problems!

[-] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Ah, good. The problem resolved itself. I can continue being somewhat lazy

[-] kubica@fedia.io 5 points 1 week ago

And somewhat italian.

[-] BenLeMan@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Phew. The small size, combined with other people surmising it might be part of a refrigerator greatly alleviates my worries you might have picked up a piece of unexploded munitions from WW2. Which is an all too common thing over here in Germany.

[-] nuez_jr@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago
[-] AFreeLarryHoover@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago
[-] essell@lemmy.world 18 points 1 week ago
[-] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

Thank you, i will never stop calling it that now!

[-] lurch@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week ago

There could be dangerous coolant in it. When scrapping devices using coolant, the workers used to make it pump it into this chamber, then squish the end tight, roll it a bit, then remove it.

[-] Jerb322@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago
[-] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

I think it is, yes.

this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2024
120 points (100.0% liked)

What is this thing?

5540 readers
1 users here now

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

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS