Partial discharges in a high voltage electric machine can be monitored by a partial discharge monitor connected to the high voltage electric machine successively via a capacitive coupler and a connection cable. The connection cable can have a conductive element designed to self-destruct in the presence of electric current amplitude significantly exceeding expected current amplitudes from said partial discharges, and having diameter designed to avoid creation of additional partial discharges within the cable itself. The connection cable can be light enough to avoid adding excessive weight to the stator windings.