A device and a method for the control of a generator, for example a claw-pole generator, with which the rectifier bridge connected to the generator can be temporarily short-circuited, as a result of which power is temporarily stored in the stator inductors, which results in higher phase voltages. Suitable selection of the control frequency for a transistor, which makes the short-circuiting of the diode bridge possible, allows an output voltage of the generator to be set to the desired voltage level which is clearly higher than the conventional vehicle electrical system voltage. The diode bridge itself can be replaced by controllable switching elements (transistors) and a voltage adjustment is implemented using suitable controls.