Electromechanical switching device and arrangement with several switching devices

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of switching distribution devices each generating a triggering state signal, each of the plurality of switching devices having an ON/OFF position and a triggering position, the triggering position including a short-circuit triggering, the plurality of switching devices being situated in a common distribution cabinet;
• a plurality of sensors detecting the ON/OFF position and the triggering position;
• a monitoring device connected to the plurality of switching devices via a data bus;
• a controller receiving the triggering state signal from the plurality of switching devices without a delay;
• at least one sound sensor detecting a short-circuit at at least one of the plurality of switching distribution devices and being permanently installed at predetermined test points in the common distribution cabinet, the short-circuit being detected as a function of sound events, the sound events being selected according to a sound level and time characteristics and being transmitted as an electric sound signal;
• and
• a monitoring device receiving the sound signal via a data bus and suppressing the sound signal when the triggering state signal occurs outside a predefined time zone, the monitoring device determining an occurrence of the short-circuit triggering when the sound signal and the triggering state signal occur within the predefined time zone, the monitoring device assigning the short-circuit triggering to a distribution switch of the plurality of switching distribution devices transmitting the triggering state signal.