A power electronic circuit, comprising: - a power component comprising at least one power semiconductor switch which power component is arranged to generate, from an electrical voltage and on the basis of alternating switching on and off of the at least one power semiconductor switch, a clocked electrical voltage for a consumer of electrical energy, and - electronic control circuitry which is arranged to control the power semiconductor switch for the alternating switching on and off, and which comprises an optocoupler with an input stage which is constructed as a light transmitter and with an output stage which is constructed as a light receiver, a first semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the light transmitter, and a second semiconductor switch which is connected in series to the parallel combination of the first semiconductor switch and the light transmitter, wherein, when the second semiconductor switch is open, electrical current does not flow through the light transmitter irrespective of the switching state of the first semiconductor switch and, when the second semiconductor switch is closed, an electrical current flows through the light transmitter when the first semiconductor switch is open, and wherein the first semiconductor switch is provided to be opened and closed, in an alternating fashion and according to a pulse pattern, so that an electrical current flows through the light emitter in accordance with the pulse pattern and that, as a result of this, the light emitter emits light in accordance with the pulse pattern, which the light receiver receives in order to generate a corresponding control signal for the at least one power semiconductor switch, wherein, during a normal mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to open and close the first semiconductor switch in an alternating fashion and in accordance with the pulse pattern, and to keep the second semiconductor switch closed, and, during a test mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to open and close the first semiconductor switch in an alternating fashion and in accordance with the pulse pattern, and to open the second semiconductor switch at a point in time when the first semiconductor switch is closed and, as a result of this, the at least one power semiconductor switch is open, and then to close the second semiconductor switch again before the power semiconductor switch is to be closed again, wherein, during the test mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to evaluate the electrical signal which is present at the second semiconductor switch in order to check that the second semiconductor switch opens reliably. - a power component comprising at least one power semiconductor switch which power component is arranged to generate, from an electrical voltage and on the basis of alternating switching on and off of the at least one power semiconductor switch, a clocked electrical voltage for a consumer of electrical energy, and - electronic control circuitry which is arranged to control the power semiconductor switch for the alternating switching on and off, and which comprises an optocoupler with an input stage which is constructed as a light transmitter and with an output stage which is constructed as a light receiver, a first semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the light transmitter, and a second semiconductor switch which is connected in series to the parallel combination of the first semiconductor switch and the light transmitter, wherein, when the second semiconductor switch is open, electrical current does not flow through the light transmitter irrespective of the switching state of the first semiconductor switch and, when the second semiconductor switch is closed, an electrical current flows through the light transmitter when the first semiconductor switch is open, and wherein the first semiconductor switch is provided to be opened and closed, in an alternating fashion and according to a pulse pattern, so that an electrical current flows through the light emitter in accordance with the pulse pattern and that, as a result of this, the light emitter emits light in accordance with the pulse pattern, which the light receiver receives in order to generate a corresponding control signal for the at least one power semiconductor switch, wherein, during a normal mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to open and close the first semiconductor switch in an alternating fashion and in accordance with the pulse pattern, and to keep the second semiconductor switch closed, and, during a test mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to open and close the first semiconductor switch in an alternating fashion and in accordance with the pulse pattern, and to open the second semiconductor switch at a point in time when the first semiconductor switch is closed and, as a result of this, the at least one power semiconductor switch is open, and then to close the second semiconductor switch again before the power semiconductor switch is to be closed again, wherein, during the test mode of operation, the power electronic circuit is arranged to evaluate the electrical signal which is present at the second semiconductor switch in order to check that the second semiconductor switch opens reliably.