High speed contact capable of detecting, indicating and preventing maloperation due to internal failure

A high speed contact for making or breaking a connection in a power system, the high speed contact comprising:

• a metallic contact switching device having a first terminal and a second terminal, the switching device configured to make or break an electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal in response to a first control signal;
• first power transistor having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the power transistor configured to transition between an on state and an off state in response to a second control signal, the on state allowing electrical conduction from the third terminal to the fourth terminal, and the off state blocking electrical conduction from the third terminal to the fourth terminal;
• the third terminal electrically coupled to the first terminal;
• a second power transistor having a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal, the second power transistor configured to transition between an on state and an off state in response to a third control signal, the on state allowing electrical conduction from the fifth terminal to the sixth terminal, and the off state blocking electrical conduction from the fifth terminal to the sixth terminal;
• the second power transistor adapted to provide a sense signal proportional to a current flow between the fifth terminal and the sixth terminal,
• the fifth terminal electrically coupled to the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal electrically coupled to the second terminal;
• and
• a controller.