The invention relates to a method for operating a 3-level
inverter (1), comprising an intermediate circuit (2) with three terminals (DC+, DC-, N) and three switching sections (3a, 3b, 3c), each with a phase tap (u, v, w) for electrically connecting to a respective phase (Phu, Phv, Phw) of an
electric drive machine, wherein each switching section (3a, 3b, 3c) has three switching devices (S1, S2, S3), wherein - for modulating an
operating point-specific output
voltage, a control device determines a switching pattern by means of which the switching devices (S1, S2, S3) are transferred to different switching states and thereby connect the phase tap (Phu, Phv, Phw) of the respective switching section (3a, 3b, 3c) to one of the terminals (DC+, DC-, N) of the intermediate circuit (2) while generating a
voltage vector, - during the modulation of the output
voltage, curves (Iphu, Iphv, Iphw) of at least one characteristic of the
electric drive unit are measured by a sensor device, for example on the basis of current and / or voltage measurements of the electrical phases (Phu, Phv, Phw), - the control device compares the measured curves (Iphu, Iphv, Iphw) with predetermined, switching pattern-specific error profiles, which each characterize a faulty short-circuited switching state of one of the switching devices (S1, S2, S3), based on the comparison a faulty short-circuited switching device (S1) of a switching section (3a) is identified and a switching pattern-specific, safe state is predicted by identifying the two switching devices (S1, S2) of the other switching sections (3b, 3c) which are to be closed to provide an active
short circuit and which are connected to the same terminal (DC+) of the intermediate circuit (2) as the faulty switching device (S1).