The invention relates to a magnetic bearing control device and the use of a three-phase converter for controlling a magnetic bearing. According to the invention, a three-phase converter (70) is used for controlling a magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68), all three phase currents (40, 42, 44) of the converter (70) being used for controlling the magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68). A first solenoid of a couple of solenoids (10) of the magnetic bearing (10, 66, 68) is connected to a first (U) and a third (W) phase current output of the converter (70) while a second solenoid of the couple of solenoids (10) is connected to the first (U) and a second (V) phase current output of the converter such that the couple of solenoids (10) can be differently controlled by means of said one converter (70). The converter (70) can also be connected to magnetic bearings that already have a bias winding, which is advantageous for retrofitting such existing magnetic bearings, for example.