Sunrise Alarm Clock (Under $200) Idea Help

[spiderhammy1]

I am new to this space.   My goal would be to create a sunrise alarm clock (something that switches on a light)  with different schedules (M-W, 6am RF, 5:30am, SS off).   Ideally controlable by a phone (Anroid), but ideally not dependent on the phone for the clock
 

1. My first option is Philips Hue - but that seems very expensive given the starter kit is $200
    
2. Could I use Rasberry PI and Zigbee/Zwave to a plugin lamp timer?  Not sure how this works or how easy it is.   I'd like to advoid the $100 hub/bridge cost
    
3. Is there a simplier way to go from phone to plug lamp timer?     I don't mind buying a cheap android phone use as the clock and brains of this system.

Ideally, I'd like to build something exandable to I could add moister dectors and other sensors later on.
 

 

[tmbrown97]

I'd recommend looking at Insteon.  I don't personally use it so I can't  elaborate as much as some of the others, but I know they have some of the more affordable modules, the expandability is almost limitless, and there are multiple control options including Mac and PC software and some hardware controllers.  Of course some of their controllers get pricey like the ISY, but if you get bitten by the automation bug, it opens up a world of possibilities; and in the mean time, you can start slow and decide if you want to build up on it.
 
A quick search shows you may end up starting with the $129 hub, but the switch or modules are under $50, so you're under $200, and you can add sensors to detect/control garage door state, motion sensors for lights, and just about anything else you can think of.

 

[Automate]

I would look at the Razberry http://razberry.zwave.me/index.php?id=1
 
$70 for the Zwave card
$35 for the Raspberry Pi
$15 for SD card
$50 Z-wave switch

 

[az1324]

Have you seen Philips wake up light?

 

[spiderhammy1]

Have you seen Philips wake up light?

I have seen the light, but I don't think it's fit for purpose in my sisutation.   The alarm configurations seem limited and the lumins is small.

 

[spiderhammy1]

I would look at the Razberry http://razberry.zwave.me/index.php?id=1
 
$70 for the Zwave card
$35 for the Raspberry Pi
$15 for SD card
$50 Z-wave switch

I was thinking this, but my reservation is the Open Remote software.   Does it have the ability to support alarm and a reverse dimming (start low turn bright)?

 

[az1324]

Insteon has ramp rate of up to 12 minutes. You can get the kit for 120 @ best buy that controls two lamps.

 

[Automate]

I was thinking this, but my reservation is the Open Remote software.   Does it have the ability to support alarm and a reverse dimming (start low turn bright)?

 
There is other software besides Open Remote that can run Rasberry Pi /  Razberry
 
http://sourceforge.net/projects/homegenie/
http://en.z-wave.me/content/what-z-way
 
I do not use any of these software packages so I can't tell you how to do it but almost all HA PC software will have some form of scripting language.  You could always schedule a script that runs once a minute and increments the percentage output of the light.

 

[picta]

I would look at mi casa verde vera lite. It retails for $160 but you can get it for less on e-bay. Get a high quality z-wave dimmer with status feedback, and you can do what you want, vera also has an android app.