Output module having an output for switching a load, comprising a switching means which switches a switching voltage (U A) to the output and thereby causes a load current (I L) to flow from the output through the load, having - a measuring means embodied to provide a monitoring signal profile (S i) which maps a signal profile of the load current (I L) on the basis of the switching voltage, - an analysis means embodied to compare, at least point-by-point, the monitoring signal profile (Si) with a switch-on characteristic curve characterising the load, - a diagnostic means embodied to generate a maintenance notification if the comparison exceeds a specifiable deviation, characterised by a detection means, which is embodied, on the first startup of the load, to detect an initial state and thus an individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real) of the load over a predetermined detection period (T E) at a predetermined sampling rate, furthermore, the detection means is embodied, for the point-by-point comparison, to ascertain and store value pairs (U k,t k) from the individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real) at which a gradient (m) changes sign or is equal to zero in the course of the individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real), wherein the value pairs (U k,t k) have an amplitude (U k) and a point in time (t k), the measuring means is then embodied likewise to provide the monitoring signal profile (S i) in the predetermined detection period (T E) at the predetermined sampling rate, furthermore, the analysis means is embodied, for the point-by-point comparison, to ascertain current value pairs (U l,t l) from the monitoring signal profile (S i) at which a gradient (m) likewise changes sign or is equal to zero in the course of the monitoring signal profile (S i), furthermore, the analysis means is embodied to examine the value pairs (U k,t k) with the current value pairs (U l,t l) with regard to a shift in their point in time and to generate the maintenance notification if a specifiable deviation is exceeded. - a measuring means embodied to provide a monitoring signal profile (S i) which maps a signal profile of the load current (I L) on the basis of the switching voltage, - an analysis means embodied to compare, at least point-by-point, the monitoring signal profile (Si) with a switch-on characteristic curve characterising the load, - a diagnostic means embodied to generate a maintenance notification if the comparison exceeds a specifiable deviation, characterised by a detection means, which is embodied, on the first startup of the load, to detect an initial state and thus an individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real) of the load over a predetermined detection period (T E) at a predetermined sampling rate, furthermore, the detection means is embodied, for the point-by-point comparison, to ascertain and store value pairs (U k,t k) from the individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real) at which a gradient (m) changes sign or is equal to zero in the course of the individual switch-on characteristic curve (K real), wherein the value pairs (U k,t k) have an amplitude (U k) and a point in time (t k), the measuring means is then embodied likewise to provide the monitoring signal profile (S i) in the predetermined detection period (T E) at the predetermined sampling rate, furthermore, the analysis means is embodied, for the point-by-point comparison, to ascertain current value pairs (U l,t l) from the monitoring signal profile (S i) at which a gradient (m) likewise changes sign or is equal to zero in the course of the monitoring signal profile (S i), furthermore, the analysis means is embodied to examine the value pairs (U k,t k) with the current value pairs (U l,t l) with regard to a shift in their point in time and to generate the maintenance notification if a specifiable deviation is exceeded.