Systems and methods for monitoring current in an electric motor

A method for operating an electrical system including an inverter coupled to an electric motor, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first phase current flowing through a first phase of the electric motor;
• measuring a first current flowing through a first phase leg of the inverter using a first current sensor, the first phase leg being coupled to the first phase of the electric motor;
• determining an expected value for the first current;
• and
• when the expected value corresponds to the first phase current, initiating remedial action based on a difference between the first phase current and the measured first current.

An electrical system comprising:

• an electric motor having a first phase;
• an inverter module coupled to the electric motor, the inverter module including a first phase leg;
• a first current sensor configured to measure a first current flowing through the first phase leg of the inverter module, the first phase leg being coupled to the first phase of the electric motor;
• and
• a control module coupled to the first current sensor and the inverter module, wherein the control module is configured to:
• obtain a first phase current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor;
• and
• initiate remedial action when a difference between the first current and the first phase current is indicative of an error condition.