Charging station for a conventional load, having a charging interface with electrodes (6a, b) for a contacting coupling of the load, wherein the load has a counter interface, a charging facility and an energy storage device, wherein the counter interface is connected to the energy storage device by way of the charging facility so that the energy storage device can be charged by way of the counter interface, having a supply facility for supplying the charging interface, wherein the supply facility can be set in a charging state and in a non-charging state, having a detection facility for detecting the coupling of the load to the charging interface, characterised in that the detection facility is embodied, a) to apply a test signal to the charging interface when the supply facility is in a non-charging state and in this context to record an electrical variable on the basis of the complex-value electrical output impedance of the charging interface as a detection variable for detecting the coupling of the load to the charging interface, wherein the charging station contains a test signal generator for applying the pulse-shaped test signal between the electrodes (6a, b) before and/or during the recording of the electrical variable, wherein a voltage pulse or a voltage jump is predetermined as a test signal, and the detection facility is embodied to carry out the detection of the electrical variable in the time range, wherein the pulse/jump response is measured and evaluated by the detection facility, and the detection facility is embodied, b) once the coupling of the load has been identified and the supply facility is set into the charging state, b1) either from time to time to set the supply facility into the non-charging state and in the meantime then again to carry out the detection method according to a), b2) or to measure a charging current and to monitor the same in order to prevent an interruption in the charging process. having a charging interface with electrodes (6a, b) for a contacting coupling of the load, wherein the load has a counter interface, a charging facility and an energy storage device, wherein the counter interface is connected to the energy storage device by way of the charging facility so that the energy storage device can be charged by way of the counter interface, having a supply facility for supplying the charging interface, wherein the supply facility can be set in a charging state and in a non-charging state, having a detection facility for detecting the coupling of the load to the charging interface, characterised in that the detection facility is embodied, a) to apply a test signal to the charging interface when the supply facility is in a non-charging state and in this context to record an electrical variable on the basis of the complex-value electrical output impedance of the charging interface as a detection variable for detecting the coupling of the load to the charging interface, wherein the charging station contains a test signal generator for applying the pulse-shaped test signal between the electrodes (6a, b) before and/or during the recording of the electrical variable, wherein a voltage pulse or a voltage jump is predetermined as a test signal, and the detection facility is embodied to carry out the detection of the electrical variable in the time range, wherein the pulse/jump response is measured and evaluated by the detection facility, and the detection facility is embodied, b) once the coupling of the load has been identified and the supply facility is set into the charging state, b1) either from time to time to set the supply facility into the non-charging state and in the meantime then again to carry out the detection method according to a), b2) or to measure a charging current and to monitor the same in order to prevent an interruption in the charging process.