Losmandy D Series Universal Dovetail Plate 14"

Product Overview

The DUP14 is Losmandy's 14-inch universal D-series dovetail plate. It carries five sets of mounting holes — 60 mm, 2.00", 35 mm, 1.5" and 1.25" separations — so it bolts to tube rings and cradles from most makers without drilling. It is 14 inches long, 0.7 inches thick and weighs 2.4 lb, and one safety stop screw is included.

Who It's For

This is the plate to reach for when a telescope needs to go onto a Losmandy saddle and the rings it already sits in came from somewhere else. The five hole patterns cover Astro-Physics, Astro-Tech, Borg, Celestron, Explore Scientific, Meade, Orion, Parallax, Questar, Stellarvue, Takahashi, Tele Vue, Vixen and William Optics, which is most of what turns up on a Losmandy mount. At 14 inches it suits a mid-size refractor or an 8-inch SCT; longer tubes are better served by the 19" or 24".

Key Features & Design

• Five mounting hole separations: 60 mm, 2.00", 35 mm, 1.5" and 1.25".
• 14 inches long, 0.7 inches thick, at 2.4 lb.
• Fits rings and cradles from Astro-Physics, Astro-Tech, Borg, Celestron, Explore Scientific, Meade, Orion, Parallax, Questar, Stellarvue, Takahashi, Tele Vue, Vixen and William Optics.
• One safety stop screw included — it stops the plate sliding clear of the saddle if the clamp is loosened.
• D-series profile, which the G-11, GM 8, GM811, G11T and AZ8 saddles all accept.

Recommended Uses

Mounting a refractor or SCT in third-party rings onto a Losmandy saddle. Replacing a shorter plate that limits fore-and-aft balance range. Building up a plate-and-rings combination for a tube that came with none. Carrying a guide scope alongside the main instrument, using the spare hole positions.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Saddles: any Losmandy D-series saddle — the G-11 saddle, the GM8 saddle plate, and the twin saddles on the AZ8.
• Longer tubes: the 19" and 24" plates carry the same hole patterns plus a 3.5" separation.
• Rings: the DVR108 guide scope rings mount straight onto this plate for a guide scope or small refractor.
• Male-to-male: the DMM adapter plate mates to any DUP plate to create a male-to-male dovetail.
• Front counterbalance: the 2" counterbalance system and 5" version bolt to the plate for a rear-heavy SCT.
• Safety knobs: the dovetail safety knob set is available if you want knobs rather than the supplied screw.

Good to Know Before You Order

• The plate has the holes; you supply the rings. This is the bar that goes between your tube rings and the mount saddle, not a ring set.
• Check your ring spacing against the five separations before ordering. Losmandy publishes a hole-pattern drawing for the DUP plates — send us your ring model and we will confirm the fit.
• 14 inches sets your balance range. A long refractor or a heavy imaging train may want the 19" or 24" plate for more fore-and-aft travel in the saddle.
• Specifications are Losmandy's published figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. The plate bolts to your tube rings through whichever hole separation matches them, then slides into the saddle and clamps. Fit the safety stop screw and you are done.

Will it fit my telescope?

It depends on your rings rather than your telescope. The five separations cover most major makers — tell us your ring or cradle model and we will check it.

Which Losmandy mounts take it?

All of them. The D-series profile is the Losmandy standard, and every current saddle accepts it.

What is the safety stop screw for?

It threads into the plate and physically prevents the plate sliding out of the saddle if the clamp is loosened with the telescope attached.

Should I get the 14", 19" or 24"?

Match it to tube length and how much balance travel you need. A short refractor or 8" SCT is happy on 14"; a long refractor or a heavy imaging train benefits from the longer plates.

Bottom Line

In short: Losmandy's 14-inch universal D-series plate, five hole separations from 1.25" to 60 mm, 0.7" thick at 2.4 lb, safety stop screw included — the standard way to get a third-party tube onto a Losmandy saddle.