What are intermittent electrical loads?

Answer 1

Ones that aren't intended to run all the time. Say you're in a factory. You've got electric conveyor belts, electric production machines and a toolroom. The machines and the conveyors run pretty much all the time, unless you're doing maintenance on them or they break down. Those are considered continuous loads, because the idea is that you never turn them off. You keep the lights in the toolroom off unless someone's in there, so they're an intermittent load. ...and I just noticed this is a Car question. (Slapping head.) Things that are powered all the time the car's running, like the engine, are continuous loads; things you switch, like the brake lights, are intermittent loads.