Apparatus and methods for controlling a ventilation mechanism

A method for automatically turning off a ventilation mechanism that was turned on at an activation time to manage humidity in an area, the method comprising:

• receiving humidity information sensed in the area;
• receiving run time input;
• and
• utilizing the humidity information and the run time input to automatically turn off the ventilation mechanism based on:
• a) lapse of the run time input after the activation time;
• b) a sensed humidity level in the area being less than a first threshold humidity level;
• and
• c) the sensed humidity level being either:
• i) less than a second threshold humidity level different from the first threshold humidity level;
• or
• ii) between the first threshold humidity level and a second threshold humidity level.

A control device for a ventilation mechanism, the control device comprising:

• a plurality of different user selectable input settings each operable to provide a respective input;
• a wireless interface configured to receive wireless communications from a wireless device;
• an atmospheric sensor;
• and
• a controllably conductive switch in electrical connection with the ventilation mechanism, wherein the plurality of user selectable input settings allow the user of the wireless device to configure the control device to control operation of the ventilation mechanism according to a user selectable operational mode, and wherein the control device is configured, in the user selectable operational mode, to perform:
• turning on the ventilation mechanism at an activation time based on sensing that a humidity level is equal to or greater than an activation humidity level;
• and
• based on the ventilation mechanism remaining turned on for a time setting of the plurality of different user selectable input settings:
• triggering commencement of a preconfigured amount of time;
• and
• automatically turning off the ventilation mechanism at a turn off time that is upon or before lapse of the preconfigured amount of time regardless whether the humidity level reaches, during the preconfigured amount of time, a threshold humidity level at which the control device is configured to turn off the ventilation mechanism, the turn off time being dependent on whether the humidity level reaches the threshold humidity level during the preconfigured amount of time.