this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2024
121 points (97.6% liked)

What is this thing?

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[–] ContrarianTrail@lemm.ee 119 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

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

[–] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] BartrandDuGuesclin@lemmy.world 22 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 21 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] ilost7489@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago
[–] Thorry84@feddit.nl 7 points 2 weeks 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.