An electric power system comprising: an alternating current AC source; a direct current DC link (112; 312); and a first power converter (108; 110) comprising an electrical circuit (160; 300; 500), said electrical circuit comprising: an electrically conductive element (162, 164; 362, 364, 374, 376, 378, 380; 574, 576, 578) having a first end and a second end; a first switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element at said first end; a voltage measurement device coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end; a first capacitive device (134; 584) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said first capacitive device positioned between said first switching device and said voltage measurement device; a DC voltage source coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end, wherein said DC voltage source is a DC pre-charger configured to energize said electrical circuit with a predetermined voltage value to pre-charge the first capacitive device (134; 584); a second switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said second switching device positioned between said first capacitive device and said voltage measurement device; and a controller operatively coupled to said DC voltage source, said voltage measurement device, said first switching device, and said second switching device, said controller configured to open said second switching device when a measured voltage signal generated by said voltage measurement device is substantially equal to a reference voltage value; wherein said electrically conductive element (162, 164; 362, 364, 374, 376, 378, 380; 574, 576, 578) is connected at said first end to said AC source and is connected at said second end to said DC link (112; 312). an alternating current AC source; a direct current DC link (112; 312); and a first power converter (108; 110) comprising an electrical circuit (160; 300; 500), said electrical circuit comprising: an electrically conductive element (162, 164; 362, 364, 374, 376, 378, 380; 574, 576, 578) having a first end and a second end; a first switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element at said first end; a voltage measurement device coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end; a first capacitive device (134; 584) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said first capacitive device positioned between said first switching device and said voltage measurement device; a DC voltage source coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end, wherein said DC voltage source is a DC pre-charger configured to energize said electrical circuit with a predetermined voltage value to pre-charge the first capacitive device (134; 584); a second switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said second switching device positioned between said first capacitive device and said voltage measurement device; and a controller operatively coupled to said DC voltage source, said voltage measurement device, said first switching device, and said second switching device, said controller configured to open said second switching device when a measured voltage signal generated by said voltage measurement device is substantially equal to a reference voltage value; an electrically conductive element (162, 164; 362, 364, 374, 376, 378, 380; 574, 576, 578) having a first end and a second end; a first switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element at said first end; a voltage measurement device coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end; a first capacitive device (134; 584) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said first capacitive device positioned between said first switching device and said voltage measurement device; a DC voltage source coupled to said electrically conductive element at said second end, wherein said DC voltage source is a DC pre-charger configured to energize said electrical circuit with a predetermined voltage value to pre-charge the first capacitive device (134; 584); a second switching device (132; 582) coupled to said electrically conductive element, said second switching device positioned between said first capacitive device and said voltage measurement device; and a controller operatively coupled to said DC voltage source, said voltage measurement device, said first switching device, and said second switching device, said controller configured to open said second switching device when a measured voltage signal generated by said voltage measurement device is substantially equal to a reference voltage value; wherein said electrically conductive element (162, 164; 362, 364, 374, 376, 378, 380; 574, 576, 578) is connected at said first end to said AC source and is connected at said second end to said DC link (112; 312).