Hi Stephen, thanks for writing in. This dehumidistat activates the fan when humidity exceeds the determined setting (20% - 80%) in conjunction with the built-in temperature control.
The Dehumidistat control is able to be mounted remotely from the fan unit. It is recommended to install it in the area of the crawlspace where moisture is likely to first accumulate in order for it to activate the fan.
I would suggest using an attic fan control not a dehumidistat, like the ones below: http://www.supplyhouse.com/White-Rodgers-775-1-Attic-Fan-Control
Yes. I used it for 4 fans. To be sure, add up the amps on all your fans and make sure the total does not exceed the amp rating of the dehumidistat
No, it is an optional component to operate the EL-1 or multiple units.
It would turn the fan on when humidity is above 30.
The manufacturer has tested this product with a maximum amp draw of 5 amps. They do not recommend using it with a higher draw than that.
This product is not affected by temperature since it is only a switch. The EL-1 fan that is used with the EDH-1 will not operate in temperatures below 50° F.
This unit is not powerful enough to pull in moisture when it rains. As far as which setting level to set it at, we recommend starting at 35 and make adjustments according to the humidity of the area.