Received my new Schneider Digest 176 February 27 2012. I see VAMP is now owned by Schneider, per Digest 176 page 4-26. Research shows Vamp was aquired by "Areva" which was then absorbed by Alstom and Schneider.

No immediate experience with Vamp, but I know consultants who have employed it.

Schnieder is continuing research started by VAMP using optical sensors and "zone interlocking" for arc flash mitigation. Schnieder came to our office about 6 months ago and did a short presentation on this system but it appeared during the questions and answers portion of the presentation that this was still in the development stages and/or limited testing stages. Our first question was the tripping time delay associated with data transfer? Our next question was how does this compare to some of the other manufactures arc flash mitigation modules more specifically the AIMS and ARMS modules. We were told they would get back to us and have yet to hear anything. In there defense they did send the newest salesman they had to do the presentation.........Poor kid!

My question has always been... and yet to be answered... what about the PD mechanical opening time delay factor? The optics and electronics work at the speed of light but its only as fast as the slowest PD operating time in the chain.
At least Schnieder isn't owned by Siemens yet....

2 years ago I participated in a MV testserie at 40 kA 0.5s (KEMA in Philadephia) where the total operating time for the arc eliminator and VAMPs equipment was around 5ms. The arc eliminator itself took 3.5 ms. It was hard to find any damages on the cubicles
after the test.
Jankar