CIRCUIT BREAKER

A circuit breaker protects an electric low-voltage circuit and has: a) a mechanical separating contact unit which is connected to an electronic interruption unit in series, the mechanical separating contact unit has a handle for opening a contact in order to prevent a current flow or for closing the contact for a current flow in the low-voltage circuit; and b) a controller which is connected to the mechanical separating contact unit and the electronic interruption unit. The circuit breaker is configured such that a process for interrupting the current flow in the low-voltage circuit by the mechanical separating contact unit and/or the electronic interruption unit is initiated if current thresholds or current/time thresholds are exceeded. The circuit breaker is also configured such that the contact of the mechanical separating contact unit can be closed by the handle only after a release signal for closing the contact is provided.