A power conversion device includes: an inverter that converts a DC current supplied from a DC power source to an AC current by engaging a plurality of switching elements, which constitute an upper arm, and a plurality of switching elements, which constitute a lower arm, in switching operation; a control unit that includes a signal generation unit that generates a switching signal carrying a command for execution of the switching operation in correspondence to each of the plurality of switching elements constituting the upper arm and the plurality of switching elements constituting the lower arm, and outputs the switching signal thus generated as a control signal; and a drive unit that individually drives each of the switching elements based upon the corresponding control signals. The control unit includes a plurality of protection circuits disposed in series on a control signal line extending between the signal generation unit and the drive unit, with each of the protection circuits outputting a control signal having been input thereto when a protective operation is not executed but outputting a control signal for setting the corresponding switching element either in a cut-off state or in an electrically continuous state in place of the control signal input thereto when the protective operation is executed.