The paper defines the problem of calculating the transient terminal-voltage rise due to self-excitation of a synchronous generator when a capacitive load is switched, and a typical case neglecting magnetic saturation is computed, first by an analytical method and then by use of analogue computer. The advantage of computational aid is indicated.Established indirect analytical methods of including the effects of magnetic saturation are described. The analogue-computer method is then extended to evaluate the problem of the effects of magnetic saturation on the terminal-voltage transient, produced by self-excitation, by a direct method.