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