Prototyping a 1 kVA Voltage Regulation Power Stabilizer Using Capacitors Bridge Cascade Model

Voltage instability in domestic electricity supplies can adversely affect the performance and reliability of household appliances and sensitive electronic equipment. This study presents the design and experimental evaluation of a 1 kVA voltage stabilizer based on a capacitor bridge cascade model (CBCM) for improved household voltage regulation. Questionnaire data collected from Dar es Salaam and Coast regions were analyzed to identify challenges associated with existing voltage stabilizers and inform the design requirements. The proposed CBCM uses 1000 µF, 35 V capacitors arranged in series-parallel bridge configurations to regulate an input voltage range of 160–250 VAC toward a nominal output of 230 VAC. The design was simulated using NI Multisim and implemented as a laboratory prototype at the Power Systems Laboratory, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam. Experimental validation was conducted under both no-load and varying-load conditions of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 VA, while the input voltage was varied from 160 to 250 VAC at 50 Hz. The results showed that the output voltage decreased gradually from 230.0 VAC at no load to 227.5 VAC at the rated 1 kVA load, corresponding to a maximum load-induced voltage drop of 2.5 VAC and a regulation error of 1.09%. The findings demonstrate that CBCM maintains stable output voltage under varying supply and load conditions, indicating its potential for domestic voltage regulation and appliance protection.