Increased horsepower using a voltage stabilizer, true or false?

Vehicle voltage stabilizer, some swear by it, some think it is as useful as a fork in a bowl of soup. There have been intense debates and name-calling on both sides of the coin, as to whether installing one in your car will bring about any benefit.

With all that said, let's dive in to the science behind voltage stabilizer and find out if they're any good, or just plain ol' snake oil.

So how do voltage stabilizers work?

A modern car has a plethora of electric components, all drawing power from the alternator to the battery i.e. headlights, LCD displays, audio system, and ECU. All the while, your car's battery will draw juice from the alternator to power these components. 

When the power draw is low (when audio, A/C, headlights etc are turned off), the extra electricity is then used to charge the battery. That's all fine and good. The problem is when there is high electrical draw (audio, A/C, headlights, engine management system). 

Traditional lead-acid battery can't switch from charge to discharge rapidly enough, resulting in small-scale (this is important) voltage fluctuations. For example, notice sometimes how a car's headlight dims momentarily when the A/C compressor kicks in (more obvious with older cars)? 

Now, small-scale voltage fluctuations won't detonate your car suddenly, but it can shorten the life of the electrical components in your car over a period of time. 

That's where voltage stabilizers come in to to picture. In such high load scenarios, a voltage stabilizer..... stabilizes the electrical fluctuations and ensures the battery has a steady charge and discharge flow.

So what's the benefit to you?

With a voltage stabilizer doing its job to eliminate small-scale electrical fluctuations, there's a knock-on effect in benefits, which include: 

• Slight increase (emphasis on 'slight') in power and torque 
• Clearer audio clarity
• Better headlamp clarity
• Longer battery life

This is all just a result of the car's electrical system no longer having to deal with small-scale electrical fluctuations, thus allowing each component to do its job more efficiently.

Additionally, installing a voltage stabilizer in your car will bring no ill side-effects that will harm its electrical components or systems. Wait no, there is one side-effect of installing a voltage stabilizer: your wallet will take a slight battering. These things are not the cheapest.

Remember to keep things grounded

It's very important to remember that voltage stabilizers only work with proper electrical grounding. Otherwise, there's no point installing a voltage stabilizer. In fact, good electrical grounding will bring a similar effect to what a voltage stabilizer does, but on a more fundamental level.

Good grounding is especially important with older cars (where rust can be a prominent problem) and cars with modified audio systems (amplifiers, subwoofers etc). Good grounding, coupled with a voltage stabilizer, will keep the electrical systems running smoothly.

Do newer cars need a voltage stabilizer?

For unmodified, newer cars that are 10-years-old or below, there's little need for a voltage stabilizer. This is because majority of newer cars have more advanced (and more expensive) batteries and electrical systems that do a near-perfect job of stabilizing electrical fluctuations. 

Should you insist on installing a voltage stabilizer in this context, well you can. Just know that you won't feel or reap the same benefits as older cars, or cars that have had their audio systems extensively modified. 

Conclusion

Gleaning all the information available to us, there appears to be tangible benefits to having a voltage stabilizer in your car. But, would you vehicle suffer without one? Nope, your car will be fine without it. Nor will installing a voltage stabilizer turn your car into a rocket sled overnight. 

It's like having kaya toast without butter. Can you still eat it? Yes. Will it taste better/smoother with butter? Yes. In essence, the voltage stabilizer is like butter, it makes the electrical bits run a bit smoother in your car, but whether it is necessary, is entirely up to you.