Deep neural networks (DNNs) are widely used for fault classification using partial discharges (PDs) to evaluate various electrical apparatuses and achieve high classification accuracy pertaining to trained PD faults. However, there is a risk of false alarm in the case of untrained PD faults because it is difficult for DNNs to predict data that were not included in the training process. In this paper, we research classification problems of unknown classes using PDs in gas-insulated switchgears (GISs) and propose a deep ensemble model to obtain the confidence of output probability and determine thresholds to detect unknown fault classes. The proposed model was verified by real-world phase-resolved PD (PRPD) experiments using online ultra-high frequency (UHF) PD measurement systems. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves better unknown detection performance for the untrained PD faults and retains the classification performance for the trained PD faults.INDEX TERMS Fault diagnosis, convolutional neural network (CNN), ensemble model, partial discharges (PDs), gas-insulated switchgear (GIS).