METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHECKING A MULTI-PHASE CONNECTING CABLE AND BRIDGE CIRCUIT FOR A MULTI-PHASE ELECTRICAL MOTOR

The invention relates to a method for testing a multi-phase connection cable (100) which connects a bridge circuit (104) to an electric motor (102), the method comprising a switching step, a measuring step and a detecting step. In the switching step, at least one switching pattern is switched by at least two switches (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) in the bridge circuit (104). A first high-side switch (112) in the bridge circuit (104), said switch being connected to a first phase (106) of the connection cable (100), is switched on as the first switch (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) of the switching pattern. A second low-side switch (118) in the bridge circuit (104), said switch being connected to a second phase (108) of the connection cable (100), is switched on as the second switch (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) of the switching pattern. In the measuring step, a current flow resulting from the switching pattern is measured. In the detecting step, damage to the connection cable (100) is detected using a value of the at least one current flow.