An adjustable speed drive (ASD) circuit includes a rectifier bridge to convert an AC power input to a DC power, a DC link coupled to the rectifier bridge to receive the DC power, a DC link capacitor bank comprising at least first and second capacitors connected to the DC link, each capacitor having a capacitor voltage thereacross, and a protection circuit including a detection circuit configured to detect a short circuit on one or more of the first and second capacitors of the DC link capacitor bank and generate an action signal upon detection of a short circuit on one or more of the first and second capacitors of the DC link capacitor bank. The ASD circuit also includes an action circuit in operable communication with the detection circuit and configured to cause a short circuit across the DC link upon receiving the action signal from the detection circuit.