Main characteristics and advantages of static VAR compensators (SVC) based on thyristor-switched schemes are presented. The operating features of compensator circuits when forming inductive and capacitive reactive power are considered. The reactive power regulation principles that provide the sinusoidal form of reactive current are explained on examples of operation of inductive and capacitive SVCs. The specificity of the operation of SVC control systems ensuring reliable operation in transient and steady-state working modes is discussed. The tasks of experimental research of SVC physical models are formulated. Experimental results obtained on the SVC physical models illustrating main characteristics of such devices are presented.