Switching device (10), comprising: a power
transistor (50, 52) with a gate terminal (G1, G2), a collector or drain terminal (K1, K2) and an emitter or source terminal (E1, E2); a
voltage source (34, 36) which is configured to supply a supply
voltage to a transition between the gate terminal (G1, G2) and the emitter or source terminal (E1, E2); a device (22, 26) for measuring a
voltage that is established between the gate terminal (G1, G2) and the emitter or source terminal (E1, E2) depending on a state of the power
transistor (50, 52), or for measuring a
gate current through the gate terminal (G1, G2) that depends on the state of the power
transistor (50, 52); wherein the device (22, 26) for measuring a voltage or for measuring a
gate current outputs a corresponding measurement
signal (70, 71) to a
control unit (12); the
control unit (12) which is configured to compare the measurement
signal (70, 71) with a reference (72) and, depending on the comparison result, to output at least one status
signal (75); characterized by the fact that the status signal (75) indicates that there is a
short circuit on a path between the collector or drain terminal (K1, K2) and the emitter or source terminal (E1, E2); and the device (22, 26) is configured to perform the measurement of the voltage or
gate current and / or to generate the measurement signal (70, 71) corresponding to the measured voltage or gate current without applying a high-voltage voltage between the collector or drain terminal (K1, K2) and the emitter or source terminal (E1, E2).