What does it mean an intermittent operation ?

"Definition of intermittent production: A manufacturing method of producing several different products using the same production line.

An intermittent fault, often called simply an "intermittent", is a malfunction of a device or system that occurs at intervals, usually irregular, in a device or system that functions normally at other times. Intermittent faults are common to all branches of technology, including computer software. An intermittent fault is caused by several contributing factors, some of which may be effectively random, which occur simultaneously. The more complex the system or mechanism involved, the greater the likelihood of an intermittent fault.

A simple example of an effectively random cause in a physical system is a borderline electrical connection in the wiring or a component of a circuit, where (cause1, the cause that must be identified and rectified) two conductors may touch subject to (cause2, which need not be identified) a minor change in temperature, vibration, orientation, voltage, etc. (Sometimes this is described as an "intermittent connection" rather than "fault".) In computer software a program may (cause1) fail to initialise a variable which is required to be initially zero; if the program is run in circumstances such that memory is almost always clear before it starts, it will malfunction on the rare occasions that (cause2) the memory where the variable is stored happens to be non-zero beforehand."

Condition in which a device operates normally for a time, then becomes defective for a time, with the process repeating itself at regular or irregular intervals.

If the machine or an equipment operates normally for sometime and then suddenly generates any error or fault that cause the equipment to stop. Then if again machine operates normally after rectification the fault or some minor adjustment to the equipment and after operating normally for sometime, again generates the same or any other fault.

If the above condition or behavior of equipment occurred repeatedly then it is called the intermittent operation of machine or in different aspect 'intermittent stoppage' of machine.

Thanks for your kind invitation...

with answer of experts

 

operation that is intermittent happens occasionally rather than continuously

Intermittent can be looked at in a number of ways - such as stop/start operation, you may require an operation to work intermittently to reduce temperature build up due to friction caused by mechanical moving parts. You may have an operation that is being affected by an intermittent fault, in that the fault is not happening all the time or at irregular intervals. The best way to describe intermittent is: not all the time - irregularity - stop/start. It can be achieved by design, or occurring by way of a fault condition.

Thanks for the invitation. But I am not familiar with this kind of operations and never heard about it.

By intermittent, we can imagine any happening without a definite time. Like a tank level switch for low level, it will trigger the control of a pump to run every time the liquid content of the tank attain the low level setting and the high level switch controls to stop the pump at corresponding high level setting.

Agree with Woofter...............................................

My understanding when check engine lite comes on when your vehicle's computer is "seeing" something wrong usually with an operation problem. get it checked when you get a chance.

Simplistic explanation: the more severe the problem, the more "steady" the light will stay on.

Thanks for invitation

My information about this sector is limited , but I enjoyed with the provided answers