Transient earth voltage (TEV) signals propagate on metal surfaces when partial discharge (PD) occurs due to the deterioration of insulation performance in the operation of gas-insulated switchgears (GIS). A TEV sensor has advantages of high sensitivity and convenient installation for detecting PD defects. However, the TEV sensor depends on imports in domestic and detailed studies have not been conducted. In this study, a sensor was designed and fabricated by the TEV principle and its response characteristics were evaluated for detecting PD defects, which were simulated as protrusion on conductor (POC), protrusion on enclosure (POE), and free moving particle (FMP) defects. Finally, the PD-induced TEV signals were measured and phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) patterns were analyzed to identify the type of defect.