A generator control unit, comprising: a dual gate driver integrated circuit configured to receive an input carrier signal, comprising a pulse-width-modulation, PWM, command signal and a higher frequency carrier signal, and convert the input carrier signal into a first exciter switch drive signal and a second exciter switch drive signal; and a transformer-isolated two-switch exciter driver configured to output an exciter drive signal in response to receiving the first and second exciter switch drive signals; wherein the dual gate driver integrated circuit includes a first gate driver that is configured to output the first exciter switch drive signal and a second gate driver that is configured to output the second exciter switch drive signal; and wherein the first and second gate drivers are switched 180 degrees out of phase with respect one another during an on-time of a PWM command signal; characterized by: a fault detection system configured to generate a direct current voltage signal based on the difference of a DC-equivalent voltage between the first and second exciter switch drive signals and to output a fault detection signal indicating the fault status of the gate drive integrated circuits based on a comparison between the DC voltage signal and a threshold value; wherein the fault detector system comprises: a differential amplifier including a first input that is configured to receive the positive exciter switch drive signal and a second input that is configured to receive the second exciter switch drive signal; a low-pass filter that is configured to filter gate drive input signals to generate a DC output voltage signal proportional to the difference between the DC-equivalent value of the first and second inputs; an analog-to-digital converter circuit that is configured to receive the DC voltage signal and to output a digital signal indicative of the DC voltage signal; and an exciter drive fault detection logic element that is configured to compare the digital signal to the threshold value, to determine the fault status of an exciter gate drive integrated circuits based on the comparison, and to output the fault detection signal indicating the fault status. a dual gate driver integrated circuit configured to receive an input carrier signal, comprising a pulse-width-modulation, PWM, command signal and a higher frequency carrier signal, and convert the input carrier signal into a first exciter switch drive signal and a second exciter switch drive signal; and a transformer-isolated two-switch exciter driver configured to output an exciter drive signal in response to receiving the first and second exciter switch drive signals; wherein the dual gate driver integrated circuit includes a first gate driver that is configured to output the first exciter switch drive signal and a second gate driver that is configured to output the second exciter switch drive signal; and wherein the first and second gate drivers are switched 180 degrees out of phase with respect one another during an on-time of a PWM command signal; characterized by: a fault detection system configured to generate a direct current voltage signal based on the difference of a DC-equivalent voltage between the first and second exciter switch drive signals and to output a fault detection signal indicating the fault status of the gate drive integrated circuits based on a comparison between the DC voltage signal and a threshold value; wherein the fault detector system comprises: a differential amplifier including a first input that is configured to receive the positive exciter switch drive signal and a second input that is configured to receive the second exciter switch drive signal; a low-pass filter that is configured to filter gate drive input signals to generate a DC output voltage signal proportional to the difference between the DC-equivalent value of the first and second inputs; an analog-to-digital converter circuit that is configured to receive the DC voltage signal and to output a digital signal indicative of the DC voltage signal; and an exciter drive fault detection logic element that is configured to compare the digital signal to the threshold value, to determine the fault status of an exciter gate drive integrated circuits based on the comparison, and to output the fault detection signal indicating the fault status. a differential amplifier including a first input that is configured to receive the positive exciter switch drive signal and a second input that is configured to receive the second exciter switch drive signal; a low-pass filter that is configured to filter gate drive input signals to generate a DC output voltage signal proportional to the difference between the DC-equivalent value of the first and second inputs; an analog-to-digital converter circuit that is configured to receive the DC voltage signal and to output a digital signal indicative of the DC voltage signal; and an exciter drive fault detection logic element that is configured to compare the digital signal to the threshold value, to determine the fault status of an exciter gate drive integrated circuits based on the comparison, and to output the fault detection signal indicating the fault status.