A control method for a PWM cyclo-converter is provided in which a voltage can be accurately generated even when a voltage command is small.
In the PWM cyclo-converter, the turning on and off operations of two-way semiconductor switch are repeated at intervals of short time. As switching patterns, within the intervals of short time, a first terminal of output side terminals outputs in order a maximum potential phase P, an intermediate potential phase M and the maximum potential phase N, a second terminal of the output side terminals outputs in order the maximum potential phase P, the intermediate potential phase M, a minimum potential phase N, the intermediate potential phase M and the maximum potential phase P, and a third terminal of the output side terminals outputs in order the intermediate potential phase M, the minimum potential phase N and the intermediate potential phase M.