A method for generating an alternating electric current comprising the following steps - generating a plurality of component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l), - superposing the component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l) to form a summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l), wherein - each component current (i 1,k,l) is modulated by voltage pulses and the voltage pulses are generated for each component current (i 1,k,l) through a component switching means (11, 12) by virtue of the component switching means (11, 12) generating the voltage pulses by switching between different input voltages, and - specifying a tolerance band for the summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) having an upper and a lower tolerance limit, wherein - the summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) is detected and the switching of each component switching means (11, 12) is controlled to generate the voltage pulses for modulating the component current (i 1,k,l) depending on the detected summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) with respect to the tolerance band, and the plurality of component switching means (11, 12) are switched at least partly, in particular predominantly, in a manner asynchronous with respect to one another, wherein - at least one difference current (i d) is detected as the difference between two component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l) and the switching in the component switching means (11, 12) is effected additionally depending on the difference current (id), characterized in that for the at least one difference current (i d), a difference band is specified, having an upper and a lower difference limit and at least two of the component switching means (11, 12) are switched opposite to one another when the difference current (i d) reaches the upper or lower difference limit. - generating a plurality of component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l), - superposing the component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l) to form a summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l), wherein - each component current (i 1,k,l) is modulated by voltage pulses and the voltage pulses are generated for each component current (i 1,k,l) through a component switching means (11, 12) by virtue of the component switching means (11, 12) generating the voltage pulses by switching between different input voltages, and - specifying a tolerance band for the summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) having an upper and a lower tolerance limit, wherein - the summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) is detected and the switching of each component switching means (11, 12) is controlled to generate the voltage pulses for modulating the component current (i 1,k,l) depending on the detected summation current (i 1,k.l +i 2,k,l) with respect to the tolerance band, and the plurality of component switching means (11, 12) are switched at least partly, in particular predominantly, in a manner asynchronous with respect to one another, wherein - at least one difference current (i d) is detected as the difference between two component currents (i 1,k,l, i 2,k,l) and the switching in the component switching means (11, 12) is effected additionally depending on the difference current (id), characterized in that for the at least one difference current (i d), a difference band is specified, having an upper and a lower difference limit and at least two of the component switching means (11, 12) are switched opposite to one another when the difference current (i d) reaches the upper or lower difference limit.