Switching device and method for driving a switching device

The invention relates to a switching device (100) for driving at least one switching device (210, 221, 222, 310, 321, 322) having a control unit (110) for driving the at least (a switching means 210, 221, 222, 310, 321 , 322) is formed, one terminal (172, 174) for applying a supply voltage to supply energy to the control unit (110), one (with the connector 172, 174) for applying a supply voltage connected energy storage (120), which is adapted to the to supply the control unit (110) upon a decrease or absence of the supply voltage to a power which is sufficient that at least one switching means (210, 221, 222, 310, 321, 322) to control such that the switching means (210, 221, 222, 310 , 321, 322) performs a predetermined switching operation, wherein the switching device (100) includes means (112, 114, 134, 140) for monitoring the operability of the energy accumulator (120). The invention further relates to a corresponding method for driving at least one switching device (210, 221, 222, 310, 321, 322) by means of such a switching device (100).