Abstract: The apparatus checks the functionality of an electrical drive and/or of a mechanical device associated with the electrical drive. The mechanical device may be an accessory or an actuating element. An electrical unit is associated with the drive and/or with the mechanical device. The unit has connections to which a diagnosis module can be connected. A power supply device is provided for the diagnosis module which can be activated via at least one of the connections to the unit, or via an external signal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for checking a plurality of electrical drive mechanisms which may, in particular, be drive mechanisms for railroad switches. Measured values are picked up at the same time at the plurality of electrical drive mechanisms, and the signals describing them are provided with a drive mechanism-specific identifier. These thus-identified signals are then carried without interruption, on-line, to a data processing system, where they are compared with desired values that are available there. If a signal deviates from a desired value, an error is indicated for the particular drive mechanism at which the signal originated.