Method for minimizing generator load on internal combustion engine

A method is disclosed for starting a generator (10) from an internal combustion engine (14) to allow the generator (10) to charge a battery (32). The generator (10) includes a field bridge (36), having first (72) and second (74) switches, and a multiphase inverter (30), having upper (60, 62, 64) and lower (66, 68, 70) halves of switches. The method includes the step of providing a voltage from the battery (32) to the internal combustion engine (14). The voltage is used to crank the internal combustion engine (14). The first (72) and second (74) switches are closed to conduct and maximize the field current in the generator (10). The method includes the step of identifying when the internal combustion engine (14) is transitioning from a cranking state to an idling state. The method then switches the first (72) and second (74) switches off to decrease the field current to zero. The method also turns the lower half of the switches (66, 68, 70) of the multiphase inverter on to quicken the decrease of the field current in the generator (10) to zero. This further reduces the amount of power consumed by the generator (10) to allow the internal combustion engine (14) to reach its idling state.