I used to have an Aprilaire bypass unit at our previous house. I liked
it very much, but they are only available through contractors. Our last
one cost about $450 installed.

I just purchased a Honeywell HE260 from Home Depot for $199 (there is a
$30 rebate offer in effect until Nov.). It's quite similar to the
Aprilaire in styling etc. I've got it bolted to the furnace (Lennox G2
- I believe) and the water supply connected.

Problem: The HE260 comes with a big honking 30VA transformer and a
kludgey "sail switch" (relay with a big "sail" that floats in the cold
air return and closes when air is flowing...Honeywell's way of sensing
blower activity). I want to avoid installing the transformer (24V) and
sail switch and, instead, just power the 24V solenoid water valve from
the furnace itself.

I doubt the solenoid draws more than about 500 mA. Is there any reason
I should NOT try to power it from the Y/T terminals (compressor
contactor) at the furnace's low-voltage terminal strip, which provides
24VAC when the blower is on?

-Pat

Chet Hayes wrote:
"Greg O" wrote in message ...

"Harry" wrote in message
servers.com...

I have forced hot air heat, and the old Humidor humidifier (installed near
the furnace) is no longer working. I never liked it all that much,

anyway,

it was the old type with the rotating sponge, etc. So, now I am looking

for

a new humidifier. Any recommendations? Are the "mist spray" type better
than the rotating sponge one (I don't know the precise term).




Don't buy either! The water wheel type humidifiers are just a breeding
ground for mold. The mist units can cause problems with mosture rusting the
ductwork, plus the nozzles clog.

Aprilaire makes good units.
Greg


I have the Aprilaire 760 and its been super. Just clean it once a
season, which is a snap, as the whole thing just pops off, don't even
need a screwdriver. I went with it because of the fan and I preferred
not to bypass the air. I'm not real sure how much of a difference it
makes, but I can see two issues:

1 - Loss of some blower efficiency

2 - Now you have hot very humid air going directly back through the
heat exchanger. One would think this might lead to rusting of the
heat exchanger.