A motor starting apparatus (10) includes a motor starting relay (112) to switch a motor starting capacitor (110) into a motor circuit across a run capacitor (111). The system control (116) includes an electronic voltage measurement circuit to measure a winding voltage (113, 114) of the motor winding (102, 103). The system control (116) also includes a microprocessor to run an algorithm that causes the system control to switch the starting capacitor (110) out of the motor circuit when a measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds a winding voltage threshold. A method to start a motor includes the steps of determining a motor winding voltage (113, 114) threshold; closing the motor starting capacitor relay (112) when needed; closing a contactor (108, 109) to supply power to the motor starting apparatus and the motor circuit; measuring a winding voltage (113, 114); comparing the measured winding voltage (113, 114) to the voltage threshold; and opening the starting capacitor relay (112) when measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds the voltage threshold indicating that the motor has been started.