Just wanted to thank Jake for his tip on the Fanhandler--put it in last night (took awhile to get it--what a pain) and it works perfect! Installation is jokingly simple, requiring only a quick study of the schematic for the furnace, a simple series connection, and intelligent placement of device / routing of wires (I ought to take a picture of this install--it looks factory... : )
Now, this company could make a killing selling these things at a Home Depot or something... This contractor-only policy is funny--the company sent me 2 shops in my area (a major city) that supposedly deal with their product and one is closed down and the other was a wrong address and phone number; when I finally found them, the owner said he has
*never* had anyone ask for it and still has the example model from Fanhandler that they gave him over 5yrs ago...
I don't see how getting an HVAC guy to order it for me helps them sell it... the guy I found wasn't even curious to see it... he also suggested that there's "cheaper" ways to do this...
There are a ton of people like myself who search for the best answers / products --we're the ones who they should be selling to (along with the HVAC guys who quote $1200 to install one of these--or some other inferior method).. hehehe
Peace, Dan