The paper mainly deals with the synchronous generator output voltage control by using a non linear control strategy: the sliding mode. The originality is not only due to the involved control strategy but also the use of a voltage source for the machine's excitation and thyristors bridge. The favourable arguments to the sliding mode control are decoupling design procedure and easy implementation by power converters. The system stability is ensured by using a Lyapunov function. Thanks to the new excitation system based on voltage source, the system's dynamics is improved in spite of the chattering phenomena induced by the sliding mode control. Simulations are done with Matlab/Simulink T M and a discussion on the results is exposed at the end of the paper.