Reddit mentions of NSI Industries TORK 401A Easy-Set Indoor 15-Amp Mechanical Plug-In Lighting and Appliance Timer - Multiple On/Off Settings - Compatible with Incandescent/Compact Fluorescent/LED - Features 1 Outlet Receptacle

I bought mine from Home Depot down the street. It was the same price, and it was a spur-of-the-moment idea. :) EDIT: here's the link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/

I really wouldn't recommend the pi/arduino. You are highly overengineering the problem. I would imagine one of those timer plug ins would be more than sufficient if you needed to power something to get water to the plants (or to regulate water flow). http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/ref=zg_bs_6291363011_9 (as a quick example)

set it to run for 15 minutes every day to turn on a pump/open a valve to allow water through and set up some drip tubing.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-Corp-Raised-Bed-Garden-Drip-Irrigation-Kit-ML50/202614215 (as another quick example)

Entire setup will take maybe an hour or two of cutting tubing and testing water flow, maybe an hour to make it look pretty and possibly some additional time (depending on needs) to refine the pump/valve.

Here is the timer I just bought for my 20g long. it works very well. However, it does buzz from time to time, but over all I'm veryhappy considering the price I paid. :)

http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1415111796&sr=8-4&keywords=light+timer

So to add to my previous comment, im not sure about commercially, but if you latch this onto the gate where it swings out it will keep it in place with a little handy work and depending on the gate style.

https://www.amazon.com/27-5A-Spring-Plunger-Solenoid-Electromagnet/dp/B00S4U3WWQ

Combine this with a Zwave plug or a timer to power it on when you want the gate to become free. You could angle the gate or spring load it from the opposite side to free open.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1479876032&sr=1-4&keywords=timer+plug

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Lighting-Control-Receptacle-Wireless/dp/B0013V1SRY/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1479876060&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=GE+zwave+outlet

They're not that expensive. I use this one and it's only like $6. Mine looses time after a bit - I think it speeds up around 5 minutes a month but it's still working good and I've had it running 24/7 since last May.

Grant it, I don't use it for the phones - I have it set to a light for my leopard gecko. There's this more expensive one that you can set multiple times a day. I have one that looks like it but is much older but I can't seem to find it.

>Do you struggle to wake up? Find yourself hitting snooze for hours on end? Sure, you could try one of those light-up alarms that simulates the sunrize, but those things cost anywhere from $50 to $200+. Here's my $5 solutions.
>
>Buy one of those plug timers (like this one on Amazon), and plug in a lamp. Set it to turn on about 10 minutes before your alarm every day, and set to turn off around sunrise. Now, never change it. It will blow your mind how easy waking up becomes.
>During the week, I get up at 5am. I'm also leaving this setup on durring the weekend when I sleep in. That way, my body is naturally starting to wake up on its own even when I don't have to. On Saturdays, I just sleep with the lamp on and feel like I'm sleeping through the morning. When I actually get out of bed, its only like 8am!
>
>If you couldn't tell, I'm way too proud of this discovery.
>
>edit: Fixed link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/
>
>edit 2: To clarify, the lamp isn't supposed to wake you up on its own. You should still have an alarm set. For me, the lamp pulls me from a deep sleep into a light sleep (no pun intended), so the snooze button is no longer appealing. Makes waking up suck less. ☺ In time, I hope to wake up every morning at the same time, lamp or no lamp, without the alarm.

I have this timer and it works great. < $6 too.

i'd check craigslist first. you can get some really good deals there.
having a timer is a nice feature but it can be easily replicated by adding a plug timer. I couldn't find exactly what i was looking for but this gives you an idea: http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/ref=sr_1_4?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1409237089&sr=1-4&keywords=light+timer

So leave it under her pillow again, but this time plug it in with one of these and set it to go off shortly after she gets into bed.

$400 preorder kinda kills it.

Refrigeration + wifi isn't worth the extra $200 over something like an Anova... at least to me.

The size also kills it for me. That thing looks gigantic and would be a pain in the ass to store away... but it's probably targeted at someone who's always goign to have it on the counter. Wish the video demo'd it more. How easy is it to clean/change out the water? It looks like it would be really hard and awkward to try and empty the water tank.

I also think one can easily hack something cheaper.

1 mini fridge,
1 sous vide device that starts immediately when turned on (the DIY PID temp controllers work)
two outlet timers

(like this http://www.amazon.com/401A-Mechanical-Multiple-Lighting-Polarized/dp/B00435FRXS/)


Quick example:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-1.7-cu-ft-Refrigerator/19895933
DIY sous vide controller about $50 to $100
2x outlet timers = $10

total is less than $200 (although a bit uglier)