A method is provided for controlling an actuator comprising an electromagnet and a control device, the electromagnet including a coil and a moving part that moves between a first position and a second position, the control device including a power supply member configured to supply the coil with an electric current having a voltage and an amperage and a measurement member for measuring a value of a quantity from among the voltage and the amperage. The method includes acquiring samples of the measured value, of regulating, according to a proportional-integral-derivative algorithm, the electric current to around a setpoint value that is equal to a maintenance value capable of maintaining the moving part in the second position, of comparing each sample to a predetermined threshold and of detecting a movement of the moving part if a single sample is above or equal to the threshold.

A controllable trip device includes a magnetic actuator, including a coupling member intended to be coupled to a switching mechanism of an electrical circuit breaker to cause the switching thereof and a coil configured to displace the coupling member towards a tripped position when it is supplied with a pulse of a current of intensity greater than a first predefined threshold for a duration greater than or equal to a predefined duration, a control device, configured to supply the coil, immediately on receipt of a control signal, with a series of pulses of duration equal to the predefined duration and of intensity greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to a second threshold equal at most to 120% of the first threshold.

An electric storage apparatus includes an electric storage device and a protective circuit for cutting off a power path when detecting abnormality including overcharge, the protective circuit being connected to an outside connecting terminal, to which a power generator and an outside load operated by electric power from the electric storage apparatus are connected. The protective circuit includes a charging or discharging path connecting the electric storage device to the outside connecting terminal, a potential difference measuring unit for measuring a potential difference at two points on the charging or discharging path, the two points on the charging or discharging path being located between a positive electrode of the electric storage device and the outside connecting terminal, a self-holding switch disposed between the two points on the charging or discharging path, and a current measuring unit for measuring a current.

A method for actuating an electromechanical switching element including a plurality of contacts, a coil with an iron core, and an armature includes: in the event that a predefined condition is fulfilled, in a switch-off process pulsing on and off or in the switch-on process pulsing off and on of the switching element is carried out repeatedly at a predefined time within an overtravel range such that a coil current flowing into the coil oscillates between a predefined maximum value and a minimum value so that the armature moves within the overtravel range and the plurality of contacts thereby rub against each other without becoming detached from each other. The minimum value is defined as a current value at a time at which the armature begins to detach from the iron core.