Abstract: A motor braking unit for a washing machine that offers high braking efficiency while preventing overcharging a capacitor in a DC link. The motor braking unit determines a current to be supplied to the motor based on a detected speed of the motor. The motor braking unit dynamically monitors the voltage on the capacitor against a reference voltage. If the capacitor voltage is lower than the reference voltage, the current component Iq is increased to increase the braking torque; and if the capacitor voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the current Iq component is decreased to prevent overcharging on the capacitor by the motor.