An electrical protection device that is designed to be connected between an input conductor and an output conductor of an electrical circuit, and to open the electrical circuit upon manual command or following detection of an electrical fault, the device being further configured to automatically determine a cause of opening of the electrical circuit, the device comprising:
- a movable contact that is connected to the electrical circuit and is movable between:
- a conducting position, in which the movable contact closes the electrical circuit, and
- an isolating position, in which the movable contact opens the electrical circuit;
- a switching handle that is movable between an open position and a closed position, the movement of the switching handle to the open position by manual control causing the movable contact to be placed into the isolating position;
- a switching mechanism that is configured to toggle between an armed configuration, in which the movable contact is in the conducting position and the switching handle is in the closed position, and a tripped configuration, in which the movable contact is in the isolating position and the switching handle is in the open position;
- a tripping device that is configured to actuate the switching mechanism in the event of detecting an electrical fault to command the tripped configuration;
- an electronic control unit;
- wherein the device further comprises:
- an electrical link element that connects the movable contact and the electronic control unit, and is configured so that a first current flows through the electrical link element to the electronic control unit, a first voltage being representative of the position of the movable contact in the conducting position or in the isolating position;
- a switch that is connected to the electronic control unit and is movable between a depressed position and a free position, and is configured so that a second current flows through the switch to the electronic control unit, a second voltage being representative of the position of the switch between the depressed position and the free position;
- a mechanical link element that is connected to the switching handle and movable between:
- a pressing position, the mechanical link element then pressing the switch and holding it in the depressed position, and
- a releasing position, the mechanical link element then releasing the switch which toggles to the free position,
- and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to measure the first voltage and the second voltage, compare the first voltage and the second voltage to determine the cause of opening of the electrical circuit among manual opening and fault opening, send a first signal if the cause of opening is manual opening and send a second and/or third signal if the cause of opening is fault opening.