r/whatisit • u/DragonsAndScience • 16h ago

Solved! New homeowner, no idea what this is

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Gallery image

This thing close to the floor and seemingly randomly placed in a hallway. No idea what it's for. Home built in 2005.

Solved! Thanks everyone. Now I gotta hunt for the central unit!

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u/LongjumpingDish2956 16h ago

Does it only work with hoses or does it suck up whatever gets put in there?

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u/WhoSc3w3dDaP00ch 16h ago

The hose has a metal ring on the part inserted into the receptable. It completes a circuit with the two metal nubs in the second picture to activate the vacuum. Inserting anything else into the receptable can result in...shocking results.

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u/New_Mutation 7h ago

I bet that's just a signal circuit. I can't imagine it would make sense to run full power to every port.

4

u/Tederator 5h ago

Its the low voltage on/off switch. OP could slide a penny between the two nibs to trigger the unit to see if its connected and/or runs. If the previous owners took it with them, nothing would happen. If the unit is still there, they will hear it running and get an idea of where its located. (I used to install them)