A method for detecting the presence of a receiver in an inductively coupled power transfer system having a transmitter and receiver. The method includes switching on a transmitter converter at a first frequency, measuring the inrush current and determining whether there is a receiver present. In another method, the inrush current is measured for a range of transmitter frequencies, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present. In another method, the inrush current is measured when there is a change in voltage in the transmitter, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present. In another method, the current supplied to the transmitter converter is measured over two transmitter frequencies, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present. In another method, the current supplied to the transmitter converter is measured over two transmitter voltages, and the variation in current is used to determine where there is a receiver present.