ZWO Seestar S30 / S50 Equatorial (EQ) Wedge Adapter - Adjustable

This adapter aids in balancing a ZWO Seestar S30 or S50 smart telescope over the center of gravity of the tripod when used in equatorial (EQ) mode using an adjustable EQ wedge.

Say goodbye to field rotation and hello to zenith imaging when using the equatorial (EQ) mode of the Seestar.

This is my second adapter design. This one is more universal and works better at extreme low latitudes near the equator or extreme high latitudes near the poles. It is also adjustable, but my original design may be simpler for you and only needs one part and one screw. Here is my original design: https://www.printables.com/model/1164637-zwo-seestar-s30-s50-equatorial-eq-wedge-adapter

If you have an EQ wedge to adjust the angle of the Seestar, it leans and at lower latitudes, could make your tripod tend to tip over.  This adapter allows you to offset the Seestar and AZ/EQ wedge so that the center of gravity is better balanced directly above the center of gravity of your tripod making it a more stable system. It isn't NEEDED, but is beneficial and will help keep your system from tipping over.

Any Alt/Az or EQ adjusting base (wedge) should work.  There are a few on the market and I have five different ones: 1. William Optics Vixen-style Base; 2. iOptron Adjustable Base #3327; 3. iOptron Precision AZ/EQ Base #3328; and 4. Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Latitude (EQ) Base. 5.Aktuhrashid (from ebay). Any adjustable base will work with this adapter. My designs use a Vixen-style dovetail, but it could be made to work with other dovetails like Arca-Swiss if you have an adapter plate.  I have 60mm and 90mm long Vixen dovetail adapters, in flat as well as 10°, 20° or 30° angled versions.  The 30° angled ones have the bolt hole offset a bit, which can aid in offsetting the Seestar when at extremely low latitudes near the equator or extremely high latitudes near the poles. You don't actually have to use my dovetails though, any Vixen dovetail adapter will work, but be cautious of the rubber feet on the S50 as they may hit. I've added 70mm and 100mm Vixen dovetail rails with a hole that you can screw in a M5x12 socket head cap screw into to be used as a safety stop so that the Seestar doesn't slide out if you didn't clamp it tight enough.

For most people in middle latitudes, I have a simpler “flat” adapter. For the lighter S30, it will work most for most latitudes. For more extreme latitudes, like near the equator or near the poles, I have a “riser” design that gives some extra distance, which is helpful for the larger and heavier S50.  I've tested and combined with my offset 30° Vixen dovetail adapter, both the Seestar S30 and S50 can be used between 0° - 90° at least with some of the EQ wedges, basically anywhere on Earth and still be balanced in EQ Mode. Some of the wedges are more adjustable than others.

Depending on which wedge you have, the markings usually indicate degrees from horizontal, so you should set it to be 90°-latitude. The iOptron Precision AZ/EQ Base #3328 has scales on both sides going in both directions, so it depends on which one you are reading.

As you can see from the photos, I've tested both the S30 and S50 and perfectly balanced them on the head of a screw to test balance.

I also have two different mount styles.  A “bolted” style that you can use if you can bolt down to your tripod or pier. For example, the ZWO TC40 tripod has a plate that you can bolt to (this is what I use). The other design is a “coupler” style that can be used with a regular tripod, which has a 3/8" screw thread coming out of it which can't be removed. The thread length is short, so you'll need a (16mm dia. and 18mm long) coupler and another short screw and washer.

Hardware needed:

3/8"-16 x ¾" UNC socket head cap screw for attaching the Vixen dovetail to the Seestar.

3/8"-16 x 1.25" UNC socket head cap screws to mount AZ/EQ wedge and for “bolted” version of adapter.

For the “coupler” version of my design, you'll need a 3/8"-16 UNC female-to-female coupler (16mm dia. and 18mm long) available at one of these Amazon links: https://www.amazon.com/MECCANIXITY-Adapter-Female-Aluminum-Microphone/dp/B0CPSHMLJR

https://www.amazon.com/MECCANIXITY-Adapter-Female-Aluminum-Microphone/dp/B0CPSKMTZ4

https://www.amazon.com/ZZHXSM-Cylindrical-Aluminium-Connector-Replacement/dp/B0DBHMJX3K

https://www.amazon.com/Maxmoral-Attachment-Articulating-Aluminium-Replacement/dp/B0D9NRKWCJ

For the “coupler” version of my design, you'll need a short 3/8"-16 x ½" UNC socket head or hex head cap screw.

For the “coupler” version of my design, you'll need a 3/8" washer. I prefer to use an oversize washer with 1" OD.

For the 70mm and 100mm dovetails, use a M5x12 socket head cap screw as a stop to prevent the dovetail from sliding out of the clamp.

These are functional prints, so I recommend extra perimeters and top/bottom layers for additional strength.

For the Vixen dovetails, the side that touches the Seestar, the one with the rounded area, should be printed on the build plate, so invert the Y-axis in your slicer if necessary. This will avoid any overhangs and not need supports.

I've designed two laser holders for use with Vixen dovetails, a straight-thru model and a right-angle model which is useful for polar aligning the EQ wedge before mounting the Seestar. Download it here: https://www.printables.com/model/1260225-vixen-dovetail-laser-adapter-for-zwo-seestar-right