The configuration of a series active power filter (APF) and a parallel passive filter (PPF) has proven to be an efficient system for nonlinear load compensation. For this topology, different compensation strategies have been proposed to control the series APF. The most effective strategy determines the APF refrerence voltage as a proportion of the source current harmonics. The proportionality constant in the control algorithm implementation is related to the APF gain and the system dynamics. In this paper, the system state model has been obtained for three control strategies of series APF: voltage proportional to source current harmonics, voltage opposite to the load voltage harmonics and a hybrid strategy which combines both previous. The resulting model analyses provide the information needed to establish design criteria for each strategy, both in terms of harmonic filtering and the system stability. The three strategies were compared in two different situations: sinusoidal supply voltages and distorted supply voltages. Finally, results of an experimental prototype developed for this purpose allowed the proposed analysis to be verified.