Abstract: A starting control system for synchronous motors having circuits for detecting motor speed, the zero crossings of the current induced in the field windings, and the motor load angle. A circuit responsive to the detected motor speed, zero crossings and load angle triggers the DC excitation of the field at the zero crossings upon reaching a predetermined rotor speed and terminates the DC excitation at predetermined load angles. The pulsed DC excitation provides a torque that pulls the rotor into synchronism within several rotor slip cycles. In one embodiment the pulsed DC excitation is applied on both positive and negative half-cycles of the induced field current waveform.