Method for the detection of a contact with a conductor of an electric cable by an electrically conductive knife (6, 6') during an insulation stripping process, in an insulation stripping device of a cable processing plant, wherein a sensor circuit is connected to the blade (6, 6') via a terminal connection (7, 10), such that a measured capacitance is formed, wherein the method comprises the following steps: before a cut into the electric cable, determination of a first capacitance value of the measured capacitance during a first measurement cycle, in which a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and a reference capacitance, of a capacitance circuit of the sensor circuit is executed, after the cut into the electric cable, determination of a parameter in a further measurement cycle, in which a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance is again executed, wherein the parameter referred to the first capacitance value indicates an alteration in a capacitance value of the measured capacitance after the cut into the electric cable, and generation of a signal, if the alteration is greater than a fixed threshold value, wherein the signal indicates a contact with the conductor, wherein the first measurement cycle has the following steps: establishment of a defined stress state at the measured capacitance, wherein the establishment of the defined voltage state comprises a coupling of a defined voltage potential to the measured capacitance, charging of the reference capacitance, such that a first voltage with a first voltage value is applied to the capacitance circuit, establishment of an electrical connection between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, so as to enable a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, measurement of a second voltage (U14'), which, after the charge equalisation, is applied to the reference capacitance, and which has a second voltage value, and determination of the first capacitance value of the measured capacitance by means of the voltage values and the reference capacitance. before a cut into the electric cable, determination of a first capacitance value of the measured capacitance during a first measurement cycle, in which a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and a reference capacitance, of a capacitance circuit of the sensor circuit is executed, after the cut into the electric cable, determination of a parameter in a further measurement cycle, in which a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance is again executed, wherein the parameter referred to the first capacitance value indicates an alteration in a capacitance value of the measured capacitance after the cut into the electric cable, and generation of a signal, if the alteration is greater than a fixed threshold value, wherein the signal indicates a contact with the conductor, wherein the first measurement cycle has the following steps: establishment of a defined stress state at the measured capacitance, wherein the establishment of the defined voltage state comprises a coupling of a defined voltage potential to the measured capacitance, charging of the reference capacitance, such that a first voltage with a first voltage value is applied to the capacitance circuit, establishment of an electrical connection between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, so as to enable a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, measurement of a second voltage (U14'), which, after the charge equalisation, is applied to the reference capacitance, and which has a second voltage value, and determination of the first capacitance value of the measured capacitance by means of the voltage values and the reference capacitance. establishment of a defined stress state at the measured capacitance, wherein the establishment of the defined voltage state comprises a coupling of a defined voltage potential to the measured capacitance, charging of the reference capacitance, such that a first voltage with a first voltage value is applied to the capacitance circuit, establishment of an electrical connection between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, so as to enable a charge equalisation between the measured capacitance and the reference capacitance, measurement of a second voltage (U14'), which, after the charge equalisation, is applied to the reference capacitance, and which has a second voltage value, and determination of the first capacitance value of the measured capacitance by means of the voltage values and the reference capacitance.