A method for identifying a motor type of a multi-phase motor, the method comprising: applying voltage pulses to each phase of the motor in turn, the voltage pulses including a positive voltage pulse and a negative voltage pulse for each phase of the motor; characterized in that, said method further comprising: determining a current rise-time for each applied voltage pulse by measuring a time taken for the current to rise to a predetermined level in response to the application of the respective voltage pulse; determining the average of the rise times for the positive and negative applied voltage pulses for each phase of the motor; and determining the motor type depending on the measured current rise-times by determining at least one of: whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if so, identifying the motor type as a surface mount permanent magnet motor; whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if not, identifying a mid-phase of the motor that does not have either the highest or the lowest average rise time; whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if so, identifying the motor type as an interior permanent magnet motor; and whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if not, identifying the motor type as an inverse interior permanent magnet motor. applying voltage pulses to each phase of the motor in turn, the voltage pulses including a positive voltage pulse and a negative voltage pulse for each phase of the motor; characterized in that, said method further comprising: determining a current rise-time for each applied voltage pulse by measuring a time taken for the current to rise to a predetermined level in response to the application of the respective voltage pulse; determining the average of the rise times for the positive and negative applied voltage pulses for each phase of the motor; and determining the motor type depending on the measured current rise-times by determining at least one of: whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if so, identifying the motor type as a surface mount permanent magnet motor; whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if not, identifying a mid-phase of the motor that does not have either the highest or the lowest average rise time; whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if so, identifying the motor type as an interior permanent magnet motor; and whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if not, identifying the motor type as an inverse interior permanent magnet motor. determining a current rise-time for each applied voltage pulse by measuring a time taken for the current to rise to a predetermined level in response to the application of the respective voltage pulse; determining the average of the rise times for the positive and negative applied voltage pulses for each phase of the motor; and determining the motor type depending on the measured current rise-times by determining at least one of: whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if so, identifying the motor type as a surface mount permanent magnet motor; whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if not, identifying a mid-phase of the motor that does not have either the highest or the lowest average rise time; whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if so, identifying the motor type as an interior permanent magnet motor; and whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if not, identifying the motor type as an inverse interior permanent magnet motor. whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if so, identifying the motor type as a surface mount permanent magnet motor; whether the average rise times for each phase are equal and, if not, identifying a mid-phase of the motor that does not have either the highest or the lowest average rise time; whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if so, identifying the motor type as an interior permanent magnet motor; and whether the current rise-time for the identified mid-phase of the motor is equal for the positive applied voltage pulse and the negative applied voltage pulse for that phase and, if not, identifying the motor type as an inverse interior permanent magnet motor.