A portable control device designed to control contacts of an electrical switch, and including a main drive shaft, a holding shaft, a motor for driving the main shaft and a microcontroller for controlling the motor. In a first direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a first recess of the switch in order to perform a movement for opening/closing the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a first holding orifice. In a second direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a second recess of the switch in order to be able to perform a movement for grounding the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a second holding orifice. The control device also includes a detector of the direction of insertion, which detector is linked to the microcontroller.