Power Supplies

Does anybody have any thoughts on advantages/disadvantages of external vs. internal power adaptors for their arrangers?

Just curious.

you don't have much choice ...either its built in or not. Power cable or wall wart....
Gary Diamond can show you how to build a power box console ...all hook ups, adapters, wires, etc, etc,..
are attached inside......plug kb in one shot and your ready to go works great...

I don't know if its cost or getting approval for the design but its up to the manufacturer. If you like the board you have to go with their decision.
I hate the wall warts. I do have some cables that are like short extension cords so the adaptor doesn't take up all the space on the power strip.
And always, ALWAYS have backups. Don't ask me how I know. OK you want to know. Middle of NY Harbor on a ferry for 4th of july Fireworks. My wire for the adaptor for my drum machine breaks right at the point where it can't be fixed. Had to keep going with just a piano. Worked out but taught me a lesson.

External power supplies are build differently and less reliable..
However they are easilly replacable..

They are also clumsy for people that gig...

I added my own to a previous keyboard to eliminate and external power supply with one like this and an iec socket..

Power supplies are one of the most common failures in electronics, so having an external one means they are easily replaced, plus there are plenty of quality 3rd party ones at a fraction of the price of a brand name one. (Manufactures don’t make their own (Or at least not often) they just buy them in with their sticker on)
On the flip side they are a pain, but for gigging they are probably ideal, as if they fail you can pop down to an electrical store and pick one up, (Or keep a spare with you) thus your instrument will be down for far less time than having to take the instrument in to a service centre. (Time is money)

Bill

External power supplies are no more, or less, reliable than internal power supplies. ALL Power supplies are the weak link in ALL electronic devices. The good news is that the external power supplies of today are quite rugged, durable and very dependable. I have always been a spare freak - when I was working I had a spare everything, including a spare van. For me, there was no such thing as too many spares.

Gary

Careful Gary, that could lead to HOARDING, and then Donny wouldn't like you anymore .

chas

Chas, the way I looked at it was that if I had a piece of equipment suddenly die on the job, I could take a 5 minute break and be back in business. Ironically, this never happened to me in more than 30 years on stage. But, I still kept all those backups up to date - just to be on the safe side. Maybe a bit of paranoia, too.

Gary

Tx

Good comments