An electric switch, more particularly a current-limiter, to be actuated by a control pin (20) which indicates the OFF or the ON condition, and which can be opened also by the agency of thermomagnetic tripping mechanisms and by means of a coii. A crank lever (37) is linked to a swinging assembly (23) which is rockably mounted about the pin (20) and to a rocker (40) carrying the rod (46) to actuate the movable contacts. The lever (37), to be able to permit that the contacts may be closed, must rest on a step (49a) of another lever (49) and this resting relationship can be undone either by acting upon the pin (20), or by means of the tripping mechanisms and the coil. The opening by means of the tripping mechanisms takes place with a kind of «stroke trip. action, the mechanism being automatically reset during opening. The action of the tripping mechanisms is visually displayed (98) and the reclosure of such a switch can be caused dependent from a local intervention by means of a pushbutton (100).