What is the main application for the Losmandy style dovetail plate 1100mm PLUS?
The 1100mm PLUS plate is designed to provide a rigid, full-length mounting solution for large telescopes up to 30 kg, such as the Celestron 14" SCT or EdgeHD. Its primary application is to serve as a mechanical backbone for building a remotely automated imaging system by allowing the attachment of the PrimaLuceLab ALTO cover motor and GIOTTO smart flat field generator.
Can I use the 1100mm PLUS plate with a telescope other than a Celestron 14" EdgeHD or 11" RASA?
Yes. While specifically designed for parallel mounting on large Celestron OTAs, the Losmandy style dovetail plate 1100mm PLUS can be used with any large telescope up to 30 kg that requires a long, rigid Losmandy-D compatible plate. The system of slots and threaded holes offers flexibility for attaching various brands of tube rings or other accessories.
What additional parts do I need to mount the 1100mm PLUS plate to a Celestron 14" EdgeHD to use GIOTTO?
To install the plate in parallel to a Celestron 14" EdgeHD for use with the ALTO motor and GIOTTO flat field generator, you will need two additional components:
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PLLSAG925 Curved Blocks: These match the curvature of the optical tube and provide a flat surface to attach the plate.
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PLLMORVLP Clamp: This is required to connect the ALTO cover motor to the dovetail plate.
How does the 1100mm PLUS plate improve the rigidity of my imaging setup?
By spanning the full length of a large optical tube, the 1100mm plate acts like a spine, unifying the telescope, rings, and any attached accessories into a single rigid assembly. This prevents differential flexure between the main telescope and a guide scope, which is a common source of tracking errors in long-exposure astrophotography.
Is the 30 kg weight capacity of the 1100mm PLUS plate a hard limit?
The 30 kg figure is a suggested maximum to ensure optimal rigidity and prevent any flexure. While the plate itself is exceptionally strong, exceeding this weight can introduce subtle flex into the system, especially when multiple accessories are attached. For best imaging results, it is recommended to stay within this capacity.
How do I attach guide rings to the Losmandy style dovetail plate 1100mm PLUS?
The plate is part of the PrimaLuceLab PLUS system, which features a pattern of threaded holes and slots. You can directly bolt PLUS guide rings to the plate for a secure, no-slip connection. For non-PLUS accessories, the central slots allow you to use standard screws to attach guide rings or other clamps from different manufacturers.