Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a permanently excited single-phase alternating current machine, otherwise known as a transverse flux machine, which allows optimal exploitation of the machine and economical design of the converter. A terminal voltage is applied to the machine, the shape of which is defined by the characteristics of the machine. The waveform of the terminal voltage converts from a sinusoid to a square wave, with a maximum voltage equal to the maximum available voltage, at defined switch-over times. Based on the switch over times, the resulting terminal voltage wave can be square, completely sinusoidal, or a combination of both.