A drive device comprising: an inverter circuit including at least one semiconductor switching element, wherein the inverter circuit is configured to convert, by switching operations of the at least one semiconductor switching element, DC power into AC power, and to output the converted power to a loading device (M); an input terminal (EN1, EN2) connectable to a predetermined signal line; an input circuit connected to the input terminal (EN1, EN2) of the drive device to receive a signal input through the input terminal (EN1, EN2); a constant electric potential part (CVS) configured to provide an electric potential that is maintained within a predetermined range; a control unit ; a drive circuit configured to output to the inverter circuit a drive signal for turning each semiconductor switching element on and off, under control from the control unit; the control unit configured to generate the drive signal, and to output the drive signal through the drive circuit to the inverter circuit for operating the inverter circuit so as to drive the loading device (M); a cut-off circuit configured to receive an input signal and, based on the input signal, to cut off transmission of the drive signal from the control unit to the drive circuit by cutting off a signal path between the control unit and the drive circuit ; and a switching part configured to perform switching between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the constant electric potential part (CVS) is enabled to provide the electric potential as the input signal to the cut-off circuit , and in the second state the input circuit is enabled to provide the signal input through the input terminal (EN1, EN2) as the input signal to the cut-off circuit . an inverter circuit including at least one semiconductor switching element, wherein the inverter circuit is configured to convert, by switching operations of the at least one semiconductor switching element, DC power into AC power, and to output the converted power to a loading device (M); an input terminal (EN1, EN2) connectable to a predetermined signal line; an input circuit connected to the input terminal (EN1, EN2) of the drive device to receive a signal input through the input terminal (EN1, EN2); a constant electric potential part (CVS) configured to provide an electric potential that is maintained within a predetermined range; a control unit ; a drive circuit configured to output to the inverter circuit a drive signal for turning each semiconductor switching element on and off, under control from the control unit; the control unit configured to generate the drive signal, and to output the drive signal through the drive circuit to the inverter circuit for operating the inverter circuit so as to drive the loading device (M); a cut-off circuit configured to receive an input signal and, based on the input signal, to cut off transmission of the drive signal from the control unit to the drive circuit by cutting off a signal path between the control unit and the drive circuit ; and a switching part configured to perform switching between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the constant electric potential part (CVS) is enabled to provide the electric potential as the input signal to the cut-off circuit , and in the second state the input circuit is enabled to provide the signal input through the input terminal (EN1, EN2) as the input signal to the cut-off circuit . <EOS>