An inverter system comprising: a pair of direct current voltage terminals (28, 30) of opposite polarity; a capacitor connected between the direct current voltage terminals; a first switch having first switched terminals and a first control terminal; a second switch having second switched terminals and a second control terminal, the switched terminals of the first switch and the second switch coupled in series, between the direct current voltage terminals; an electric machine or generator having one or more windings (57, 157, 257) and a first phase output terminal associated with the switched terminals between the first switch and the second switch; a first set of blocking diodes in series, cascaded in series between one of the direct current terminals and a node associated with a first voltage supply; a second set of blocking diodes in series, cascaded in series between the first phase output terminal and a node associated with a second voltage supply; characterised in that the first voltage supply providing a first output voltage level and a second output level switchable to the first control terminal, the first output level distinct from the second output level, the first output level providing electrical energy via the first set of blocking diodes to the capacitor to charge or trickle charge the capacitor in a start-up mode to a primary voltage level; the second voltage supply providing the first output voltage level and the second output level switchable to the second control terminal, the first output level providing electrical energy via the second set of blocking diodes to the capacitor to charge to trickle charge the capacitor in the start-up mode to the primary voltage level; and in a transitional excitation mode, the electric machine capable of inducing alternating current flux in one or more windings associated with the first phase output terminal to ramp up a voltage level of the direct current voltage terminals from the primary voltage level to a secondary voltage level, where the secondary voltage level is associated with an operational mode of the inverter system. a pair of direct current voltage terminals (28, 30) of opposite polarity; a capacitor connected between the direct current voltage terminals; a first switch having first switched terminals and a first control terminal; a second switch having second switched terminals and a second control terminal, the switched terminals of the first switch and the second switch coupled in series, between the direct current voltage terminals; an electric machine or generator having one or more windings (57, 157, 257) and a first phase output terminal associated with the switched terminals between the first switch and the second switch; a first set of blocking diodes in series, cascaded in series between one of the direct current terminals and a node associated with a first voltage supply; a second set of blocking diodes in series, cascaded in series between the first phase output terminal and a node associated with a second voltage supply; characterised in that the first voltage supply providing a first output voltage level and a second output level switchable to the first control terminal, the first output level distinct from the second output level, the first output level providing electrical energy via the first set of blocking diodes to the capacitor to charge or trickle charge the capacitor in a start-up mode to a primary voltage level; the second voltage supply providing the first output voltage level and the second output level switchable to the second control terminal, the first output level providing electrical energy via the second set of blocking diodes to the capacitor to charge to trickle charge the capacitor in the start-up mode to the primary voltage level; and in a transitional excitation mode, the electric machine capable of inducing alternating current flux in one or more windings associated with the first phase output terminal to ramp up a voltage level of the direct current voltage terminals from the primary voltage level to a secondary voltage level, where the secondary voltage level is associated with an operational mode of the inverter system.