Star Adventurer/SAM Dual Adapter V2 for polar illuminator/PoleMaster Accessory

Peter Detterline 

Dual Adapter v2Sky Watcher USA has been revolutionizing the portable mount industry for taking long exposure astronomical imaging with the Star Adventurer and Star Adventurer Mini (SAM).  Both units are compact enough to fit in a camera bag, and both track incredibly well as long as they are properly polar aligned. For a wide field lens, the polar finderscope with illuminator that comes with both units is all that is necessary.  However, the adapter to attach the illuminator is not a very tight fit and doesn't fit onto the Star Adventurer Dec Bracket, which means that after polar aligning you have to start adding additional hardware and equipment which if you're not careful can ruin your alignment.   For larger lenses, and a smaller field of view, you will want a more precise alignment with a QHY Pole Master.  This requires purchasing a special universal adapter to fit the Pole Master onto the Dec Bracket. There has to be an easier way.

Philippe Leca of Astrokraken (http://www.astrokraken.fr/) has developed a device that will quickly and easily allow a user to go back and forth between the Illuminator and Pole Master with ease and accuracy without removing the Dec Bracket or the camera.  The device is called the Dual Adapter v2, and arrives as two pieces of 3D printed material.  The two pieces are rather solid in design and look as if they would hold up over long hours of use.  Some assembly is required, but it is very simple and requires only a screwdriver.  There are three screws which are countersunk to securely fasten the two pieces together.  The fit is perfect, and the screws tighten in easily and securely. Once the unit is assembled it doesn't need to be separated.

Align the dual adapter onto the Dec Bracket centering it over the polar finderscope.  To insure a snug fit there are two screws which will hold the unit securely.  The screws are nylon, so finger tighten first, and then if needed carefully use a screw driver being certain not to over tighten; it shouldn't take more than a quarter turn.  That's all there is to it.  The dual adapter is now ready for use.  Once installed, I haven't found a reason to remove it from the Dec Bracket.  As long as you line it up with the polar finderscope you're good to go.
If you want to use the illuminator, it will snap snugly into the dual adapter with the cut opening large enough to fit the on/off dimmer. Remove the illuminator and the Pole Master fits securely into the adapter with the cut opening designed for the USB cable.  Be certain to tighten the Pole Master using the black nylon set screw, but only finger tight is necessary; do not over tighten.
Changing between the illuminator and the Pole Master takes less than a minute, and allows fast polar alignment for whatever method the observer chooses without removing equipment.  If you have a Star Adventurer or SAM unit, I consider this to be essential equipment.