Abstract: A starting system for a rotary dynamoelectric converter is disclosed. The converter is of the type having three sets of windings wired in either delta or wye configuration. Each set of windings consists of two coils normally connected in parallel within the respective winding, and the converter has three leads connected to the delta or wye configurations. Two of the leads are to be connected to a source of single-phase, alternating current, and a run capacitor is connected between one of the first two leads and the third lead, such that three-phase current can be drawn from the three leads when the dynamoelectric converter is running at its normal operating speed. The starting system comprises a mechanism for connecting the two coils in each respective winding in series with each other when single-phase current is initially connected to the first two leads to start the converter.