# Using a variable tension generator? **URL:** \ **Category:** DIY STUFF\ **Created:** [October 27, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148 "2021-10-27T13:16:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![essan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/essan/32/17625_2.png) [@essan](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/essan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/1 "2021-10-27T13:16:08Z")
**hey everyone !** i want to use a variable tension generator to try out some diy eurorack stuff ! the thing i'm using to do this [is that](https://www.amazon.fr/SKY-TOPPOWER-STP3005-Alimentation-DC/dp/B07FY2QSGL) is that possible to have at the same time +12 and -12 (and gnd of course) ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/2 "2021-10-27T15:11:44Z")
You’d need two of them. Connect +V from one supply to ground, -V from the other to ground, and connect the two grounds together and to ground on your module. The remaining - terminal is -12 V, the remaining + terminal is +12 V. Or at least that’s how it usually works with these power supplies — if the + and - outputs float and the ground connects to mains ground. Check before proceeding. See also: > [@2 Single Output Bench Power Supplies vs One Dual Output Supply](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/2-single-output-bench-power-supplies-vs-one-dual-output-supply/2622): > > Just getting into DIY module building and am trying to save a few bucks. I’m located in the US and would like to get a bench supply for my shop for testing my modules and gizmos. I realize there are some cheap alternatives for using a case supply for KOSMO/Eurorack for testing, but would like a generalized bench supply for other electronic work outside of synth building too. When my builds are case ready, I’ll setup a case supply for them then. Since I have to supply both +12v and -12v is it be… ---
**Author:** ![fredrik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/fredrik/32/682_2.png) [@fredrik](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/fredrik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/3 "2021-10-27T16:32:54Z")
> [@essan](#): > > variable tension (While “electric tension” isn’t unheard of in English, it’s usually called “voltage”, unlike in a lot of other languages that use some variant of “pulling force”.) ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/4 "2021-10-28T01:36:38Z")
In this particular instance, English speakers would probably refer to that as a “variable power supply”. ---
**Author:** ![Krakenpine](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/krakenpine/32/3263_2.png) [@Krakenpine](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Krakenpine)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 6:23am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/5 "2021-10-28T06:23:28Z")
…I just realized, that voltage in Finnish, “jännite”, means literally tension. I’ve never realized it when talking about electricity, even when talking about piezoelectrics where tension effects the voltage. ---
**Author:** ![jaradical](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jaradical/32/12069_2.png) [@jaradical](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jaradical)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 7:43am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/6 "2021-10-28T07:43:17Z")
Yeah - it took me a little while to figure out that “tension” is french for voltage. I was all like, why are we stressing out, it’s not like we’re playing with mains voltages?! ---
**Author:** ![TimMJN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/timmjn/32/15227_2.png) [@TimMJN](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/TimMJN)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 10:47am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/7 "2021-10-28T10:47:56Z")
You’re not alone! I know Dutch, German, and Italian have similar words, and probably many more languages. Actually, ‘tension’ makes more sense. ‘Volt’ is the unit, not the physical quantity. Calling it ‘voltage’ is like calling distance ‘meterage’, or time ‘secondage’. Calling current ‘Amperage’ follows the same flawed logic. I’m not aware of any appropriate English word for voltage. (Electrical) potential comes close, but not quite, as voltage is actually a potential difference. ---
**Author:** ![jaradical](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jaradical/32/12069_2.png) [@jaradical](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jaradical)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 11:58am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/8 "2021-10-28T11:58:52Z")
We could go for EMF : - [Electromotive force - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromotive_force) Or the real EMF [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/b/e/be15d6eaa07831dc646597eb4bf564e5f62fc6eb.jpeg "EMF - Unbelievable (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5kr2OBhh4c) ---
**Author:** ![Farabide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Farabide](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Farabide)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:02pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/9 "2021-10-28T12:02:45Z")
Language is irrelevant if like me you still regard electronic engineering as backwards physics! ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:34pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/10 "2021-10-28T12:34:04Z")
> Technical journals and dictionaries exhibit no uniformity regarding use of the terms electromotive force, potential difference, and voltage. Electromotive force is sometimes deprecated, and sometimes considered to be a synonym for one of the other terms. The three terms relate to different aspects of electrical phenomenona, and it is useful to draw distinctions among them and define each in a precise way. [Chester H. Page](https://aapt.scitation.org/author/Page%2C+Chester+H), “Electromotive force, potential difference, and voltage”, American Journal of Physics 45, 978-980 (1977) `https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1119/1.10862` (The article itself unfortunately is paywalled.) ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:50pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/11 "2021-10-28T12:50:21Z")
And of course calling it a “power supply” was silly in the first place. Most power supplies don’t even have a power display. But “voltage supply” would be wrong too, or at least the one I have can supply either voltage or current. ---
**Author:** ![TimMJN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/timmjn/32/15227_2.png) [@TimMJN](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/TimMJN)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/12 "2021-10-28T12:54:10Z")
Yeah “voltage supply” would be odd too, the voltage doesn’t go anywhere. “Potential difference- or current-controlled electric energy supply”… guess that doesn’t sell well (: ---
**Author:** ![essan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/essan/32/17625_2.png) [@essan](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/essan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/13 "2021-10-28T13:36:21Z")
yeah, i’m french you discovered the secret 😂 ---
**Author:** ![jaradical](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jaradical/32/12069_2.png) [@jaradical](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/jaradical)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/14 "2021-10-28T13:39:35Z")
Back to first principals and double integrals everyone: [Maxwell's equations - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations#Formulation_in_SI_units_convention) ---
**Author:** ![fredrik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/fredrik/32/682_2.png) [@fredrik](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/fredrik)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/15 "2021-10-28T15:20:14Z")
Yeah, we have forum members from all over the place, and a small collection of giveaways (e.g. “K7” and now “tension” for french, “poti” for germans, … 😃) ---
**Author:** ![Sonosus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/sonosus/32/13679_2.png) [@Sonosus](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Sonosus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/16 "2021-10-28T18:06:38Z")
Ach aye we dae the noo like… ---
**Author:** ![saint\_et\_moudulard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/saint_et_moudulard/32/12683_2.png) [@saint\_et\_moudulard](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/saint_et_moudulard)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/using-a-variable-tension-generator/4148/17 "2021-10-29T12:28:49Z")
you can use this sort of cheap circuit to have +/-12v from 15v DC; I use it with an AC/DC adapter like a bench-test power supply connected directly on power’s rails of my breadboard with dupont’s cables, and it work good ! > **[4.04US $ 5% de réduction|Boost Buck – Module de tension à double sortie 2 en...](https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32926203811.html)** > > Achetez malin, vivez mieux! Aliexpress.com ![IMG_20211029_142723](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/3X/9/f/9fcc5200879c2cdf55a5355e137eb0c96308e308.jpeg)