A method of starting a DC—DC converter into a precharged output voltage including generating a reference voltage having a linear relationship with the output voltage such that the reference voltage ranges between a minimum and maximum voltage level of a PWM triangular waveform as the output voltage ranges between zero and an input voltage level, and enabling output switching of the DC—DC converter when the reference voltage is approximately equal to a compensation signal generated by an error amplifier comparing the reference voltage with a feedback signal representative of the output voltage. Generating a reference voltage may include applying a first current based on the input voltage through two resistors to develop the minimum and maximum voltage levels, applying the first current in one direction through a third resistor, and applying a second current based on the output voltage through the third resistor in the opposite direction.