{"product_id":"ioptron-8422-178","title":"iOptron Dovetail Plate - 178mm universal","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e178mm (7-inch) Length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUniversal Mounting Design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides Secure OTA-to-Mount Connection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAids in Balancing Telescope Assemblies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownloads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n      \u003ch2\u003eDovetail Plate - 178mm universal\u003c\/h2\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThis universal dovetail plate provides a rigid 178mm mounting platform, essential for securely attaching your optical tube assembly (OTA) to a compatible astronomical mount and achieving precise balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eA 178mm Platform for Secure Mounting and Balance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eThe 178mm length offers ample surface area for attaching telescope tube rings, providing a stable and secure connection to your mount's saddle. This length is particularly effective for balancing short-tube refractors, smaller SCTs, or Maksutov-Cassegrains, especially when imaging accessories like cameras or heavy eyepieces are added to the optical train.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n      \u003ch3\u003eUniversal Design for Broad Compatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n      \u003cp\u003eDesigned to be \"universal,\" this plate typically features a combination of mounting holes and slots to accommodate a wide variety of tube ring spacings from different manufacturers. This adaptability makes it a reliable choice for various optical tubes, preventing the need to find a proprietary, instrument-specific plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cul\u003e\n          \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBalance Adjustment:\u003c\/strong\u003e The length allows you to slide the entire OTA forward or backward in the mount's saddle, giving you the range needed to perfectly balance your setup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessory Mounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e The platform can also serve as a base for mounting additional accessories, such as a guide scope or piggyback camera bracket, alongside your main instrument.\u003c\/li\u003e\n          \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNote on Fit:\u003c\/strong\u003e While designed for broad compatibility, a \"universal\" fit may require you to select the appropriate slots or holes that best match your specific tube rings; not every hole will align with every possible configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003c\/ul\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat is the primary purpose of the 178mm universal dovetail plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe primary purpose of this 178mm plate is to create a secure, standardized connection between your telescope's optical tube (via tube rings) and your astronomical mount's saddle plate. Its length also provides the necessary travel to slide the telescope back and forth for precise balancing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill this 178mm dovetail plate help balance my Celestron 8\" SCT for imaging?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eYes, a 178mm plate is a good length for balancing an 8\" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT). When you add a camera, filter wheel, or heavy eyepiece, the center of balance shifts. This plate provides enough length to slide the telescope forward or backward in the mount saddle to compensate for that extra weight and achieve proper balance on both axes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat does \"universal\" mean for this 178mm dovetail plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\"Universal\" means the plate is designed with multiple slots and pre-drilled holes to fit a wide range of telescope tube rings and accessories, rather than being custom-made for a single telescope model. This increases its compatibility with equipment from various manufacturers, though you will need to supply your own mounting bolts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow do I know if the 178mm dovetail plate is the right length for my telescope?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eA 178mm (approximately 7-inch) plate is ideal for short-to-medium length optical tubes, such as small refractors, 6\"-8\" SCTs, and most Maksutov-Cassegrains. It should be long enough to span the distance between your tube rings comfortably while leaving extra room at the front and back for balance adjustments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I mount guide scope rings directly to this 178mm plate?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eYes, in many cases. If the plate has appropriately spaced and threaded holes, you can often mount a set of guide scope rings directly on top of it. This creates a rigid, piggyback guiding setup, which is a common application for plates of this length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n    \u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat kind of mount is this 178mm dovetail plate compatible with?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThe product title does not specify the dovetail style (e.g., Vixen V-style or Losmandy D-style). You must visually confirm the plate's width and angled profile to ensure it matches your mount's saddle. Vixen-style is the most common standard for mounts in the light-to-medium duty payload class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n      \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e178mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n  \u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n  \u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n  \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis product is covered by the manufacturer's warranty. For details, please see the documentation included with your purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"iOptron","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52917316616477,"sku":"IOP-8422-178","price":47.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/iOptron-Dovetail-Plate-178mm-universal-1_8c0bc8c2-5a1f-472e-9d52-933333d9853f.jpg?v=1789142661","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/fr-us\/products\/ioptron-8422-178","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}