Abstract: A protected switch includes first and second electromechanical relays with guided contacts, each including an electromagnet and electrical contacts. A first contact of the first relay and a first contact of the second relay are connected in series in order to form a switching circuit. The switch further includes an interconnection circuit which connects at least a portion of the other electrical contacts of the first and second relays. The excitation of the first electromagnet is conditional on the state of the second relay and the excitation of the second electromagnet is conditional on the state of the first relay.