What are the consequences of connecting a Sata Hard-Drive to the Motherboard but without the power connector ?

[FredCailloux]

The motherboard has 6 Sata connectors. 2 are eSata and 4 are Sata.
I am utilizing one of the eSata to connect my boot SSD OS HHD, which is Windows 7. The 4 Sata connect 4 Data HHDs.
The 4 HHDs are seldom needed ( like once a month for 10 minutes, Backup strategy).

I want to connect the 4 Data HHDs, but install a power switch on the power supply line such that I can manually decide when those drives are going to be utilized.

So the question is: While letting the 4 Sata cables connected to each drive,
could disconnecting the 12V and 5V power to the HDD have detrimental consequences whatsoever?
(Be it; shorten drive life expectancy or any damage to the Motherboard or other)

 

[Solaris17]

SATA is a hot plug supported protocol and the hardware (motherboards and drives) are built to be able to adhere to it.

it hurts nothing.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Bios options can be enabled to allow sata ports to be hot swap capable

Only issue I see frankly is the power switch done properly and delivering stable current per selection and of course how the switch actually is selecting each selection to
A dial type sure wouldn't be wise.

 

[80251]

Wait so you can actually disconnect a SATA HDD from a live (i.e. powered on) system? Then again I always power off my eSATA external enclosure after uninstalling the HDD.