A UPS system may be operated selectively in either a high efficiency mode or a low efficiency mode. An inductor is connected in series between the transfer switch and a secondary power source. The transfer switch includes thyristors arranged in a reverse connected configuration. A controller synchronizes gate commands to the thyristors in order to synchronize reserve voltage introduced by the inverter. If the load currents are not in phase with a fundamental voltage of the secondary power source, the controller waits up to a first time period in order to estimate when current through the switches will reach zero. If the out of phase current will reach zero by the end of a second time period, the inverter is switched on at the end of the second time period.