what is this thing?

[Freshgeardude]

this

does anyone know what this is and it can be used for?

 

[Alchemist99]

looks like a relay.

 

[Freshgeardude]

do you know what it can be used for?

 

[RossMAN]

It's a disappearing forum 😉

 

[Jeff7]

A relay uses an electrical current to activate a switch.

Two of the pins connect to the coil of wire. A certain amount of voltage and amperage will turn it into an electromagnet, activating the switch, to which the other two pins are attached.


It can be useful if you want to use a small amount of current to switch on a larger one. For example, a low-voltage circuit could be used to trigger something like a 120VAC light bulb.

 

[George P Burdell]

Kite string.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

It kind of looks like the receiver/clicker end of a telegraph or morse code thingy.

 

[Shawn]

It's a relay. My coffee maker has one that looks exactly like that.

 

[OverVolt]

Flux capacitor.

Try not to end up in 1985 with that thing.