Leave storage connected?

[Ifti]

I have several external SSD drives/encosures that I use depending on the work I am doing. Rarely do I have them all connected simultaneously. Nevertheless, I have the habit of ejecting and unplugging any connected drive before I leave or place my computer to sleep (I rarely shut down). I then just plug the drive back in when I return and want to continue. I never really leave the drive connected when it's not being used at all.

Just interested to see if others are the same, or whether you just leave any external devices connected 'permanently'?

 

[Weaselboy]

I have two SSDs attached to my ASD and never disconnect or eject them. I just let the computer go to sleep with them connected.

 

[smithrh]

I would never subject any plug or jack to extra insertion/removal cycles. It's one of the weakest links in the chain, both electrically and mechanically.

Leave them be.

 

[Boppi]

I wouldn't say permanently, but my two are plugged in most of the time to my MBP in clamshell, often days and weeks at a time.

An external drive is designed to stay powered up as much as an internal. You're not extending their lives by doing that, and as mentioned above, you're certainly putting more wear and tear on the ports.

 

[Ifti]

Never considered that TBH. I leave the cables connected to the back of my Studio permanently, and then plug/unplug from the actual drive itself.
Once I get an OWC StudioStack I may use that to leave my drives connected in that case.......!

 

[smithrh]

The drive side is arguably weaker than the Mac side - Apple has very good hardware.

SSD/HD manufacturers go for lower cost, lower quality connectors.