A single phase electronically commutated motor, having: a stator, having two winding strands (30, 32), each connected in series with an associated semiconductor switch (34, 44) via a junction (54, 52), the two series circuits (40, 50) being preceded by a third semiconductor switch which interrupts the power supply from a DC power source to the motor when it is blocked, and a permanent-magnet rotor, the latter inducing a voltage (u lnd) in the winding strands (30, 32) when rotated; an electronic computing device configured to effect the following steps during operation, characterized by: a) the instantaneous operating voltage (Ub) of the motor is detected in digital form; b) by means of the detected value of the operating voltage (Ub) and optionally further parameters, a time duration (T on) of a turn-on current pulse (i 30) for the motor is determined; c) a predetermined winding strand of the motor is energized with said current pulse (i 30); d) at the end of the turn-on current pulse (i 30), the power supply to the motor is interrupted by blocking the third semiconductor switch such that the magnetic energy stored in the motor temporarily generates a current (i*) circulating in the motor and flowing through the winding strands (30, 32), which is hereinafter referred to as a circular current; e) by evaluating the potential at the junctions (54, 52), it is monitored whether an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*); f) if this is not the case, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is extended, and the starting process is repeated with this extended time duration; g) if an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*), it is checked whether it occurs on the side of the predetermined winding strand; h) if NO, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is shortened, and the starting process is repeated with this shortened time duration; i) if YES, there is a transition to normal commutation of the motor. a stator, having two winding strands (30, 32), each connected in series with an associated semiconductor switch (34, 44) via a junction (54, 52), the two series circuits (40, 50) being preceded by a third semiconductor switch which interrupts the power supply from a DC power source to the motor when it is blocked, and a permanent-magnet rotor, the latter inducing a voltage (u lnd) in the winding strands (30, 32) when rotated; an electronic computing device configured to effect the following steps during operation, characterized by: a) the instantaneous operating voltage (Ub) of the motor is detected in digital form; b) by means of the detected value of the operating voltage (Ub) and optionally further parameters, a time duration (T on) of a turn-on current pulse (i 30) for the motor is determined; c) a predetermined winding strand of the motor is energized with said current pulse (i 30); d) at the end of the turn-on current pulse (i 30), the power supply to the motor is interrupted by blocking the third semiconductor switch such that the magnetic energy stored in the motor temporarily generates a current (i*) circulating in the motor and flowing through the winding strands (30, 32), which is hereinafter referred to as a circular current; e) by evaluating the potential at the junctions (54, 52), it is monitored whether an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*); f) if this is not the case, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is extended, and the starting process is repeated with this extended time duration; g) if an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*), it is checked whether it occurs on the side of the predetermined winding strand; h) if NO, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is shortened, and the starting process is repeated with this shortened time duration; i) if YES, there is a transition to normal commutation of the motor. a) the instantaneous operating voltage (Ub) of the motor is detected in digital form; b) by means of the detected value of the operating voltage (Ub) and optionally further parameters, a time duration (T on) of a turn-on current pulse (i 30) for the motor is determined; c) a predetermined winding strand of the motor is energized with said current pulse (i 30); d) at the end of the turn-on current pulse (i 30), the power supply to the motor is interrupted by blocking the third semiconductor switch such that the magnetic energy stored in the motor temporarily generates a current (i*) circulating in the motor and flowing through the winding strands (30, 32), which is hereinafter referred to as a circular current; e) by evaluating the potential at the junctions (54, 52), it is monitored whether an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*); f) if this is not the case, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is extended, and the starting process is repeated with this extended time duration; g) if an induced voltage occurs after the end of the circular current (i*), it is checked whether it occurs on the side of the predetermined winding strand; h) if NO, the time duration (T on) of the turn-on current pulse (i 30) is shortened, and the starting process is repeated with this shortened time duration; i) if YES, there is a transition to normal commutation of the motor.