Delta PLC Training (2026): DVP, AS, and AH Series with ISPSoft

Delta Electronics is Taiwanese, and its PLCs are everywhere in Asian manufacturing, growing in Eastern Europe, and increasingly visible globally in machine-tool and plastics-industry OEM work. The hardware is competitive on price-performance, the software (ISPSoft and the newer DIADesigner) is free, and the IEC 61131-3 support in the AS-Series is solid.

This post is the overview. For the broader strategy of learning multiple dialects, see our PLC dialects comparison.

The Delta landscape

• DVP-SS / DVP-SX / DVP-SE — entry-level micro-PLCs. Legacy-style programming in WPLSoft.
• AS-Series (AS200, AS300) — modern mid-range. Full IEC 61131-3 support in ISPSoft. The training target for 2026.
• AH-Series — high-end, modular, motion-capable.
• AS-Safety — safety variants.
• ISPSoft — the unified IDE for AS/AH-series.
• WPLSoft — the legacy IDE for DVP-series.
• DIADesigner — Delta's newer all-in-one IDE (PLC + HMI + motion). Gradually replacing both ISPSoft and WPLSoft.

Delta is fast-moving on software — projects launched in 2022 on ISPSoft are being transitioned to DIADesigner in 2026. Learn ISPSoft as primary, peek at DIADesigner.

The 6-week self-study path

Weeks 1–2: ISPSoft + AS-Series fundamentals

Download ISPSoft (free, registration required from Delta's website). Install on Windows.

Create a project targeting an AS228T (or any AS-Series). Cover:

• Hardware configuration tree
• Adding local I/O modules
• Symbol-based programming (tags) vs legacy addressed programming
• Writing the start/stop rung

AS-Series addressing uses X0.0 (input bit 0 of module 0), Y0.0 (output), M100 (auxiliary bit), D100 (data register). Very similar to Mitsubishi's conventions.

Weeks 3–4: IEC 61131-3 in ISPSoft

The AS-Series supports ladder, structured text, function blocks, and SFC. Build:

• A motor-control function block (reusable across the project)
• A structured-text calculation for scaled analog input
• A sequencer with phase variables

See our ladder vs structured text post for the ST primer.

Week 5: CANopen + Modbus RTU

Delta's native fieldbus is CANopen (for motion and drives) and Modbus RTU (for cheap HMI and remote I/O). One week to get competent with both.

Week 6: HMI with DIADesigner

DIADesigner's HMI module is the closest thing to a unified IDE experience. Build a one-screen dashboard for your Week-4 sequencer. Export to a Delta HMI or use the simulator.

Free and cheap resources

• ISPSoft — free, full featured.
• WPLSoft — free, needed for legacy DVP projects.
• DIADesigner — free, the modern unified tool.
• Delta Group YouTube — official tutorials.
• Used DVP or AS-Series PLC — USD 150–400 on eBay.

Where our simulator fits

Our Delta dialect toggle executes IEC 61131-3 the way AS-Series runs it. The code transfers directly. Addressing conventions (X0.0, Y0.0, D100) are ISPSoft-specific and best learned there.

Is Delta worth specialising in?

• Taiwan, China, South-East Asia, India: yes, large installed base.
• Eastern Europe, Latin America: growing presence.
• North America: limited, mostly machine-tool and plastics OEMs.
• Western Europe: limited, except specific machinery verticals.

Delta is a strong second-or-third vendor rather than a primary in most Western markets.

FAQ

Is ISPSoft free?

Yes — Delta publishes it freely for all customer and learner use.

Is Delta PLC a good brand?

Yes, particularly on price-performance. Delta is a major industrial electronics company with strong PLC, drive, and HMI lines. In Asia it competes head-to-head with Mitsubishi and Omron.

Is DIADesigner replacing ISPSoft?

Yes, gradually. New projects increasingly use DIADesigner; legacy projects stay in ISPSoft. Learn ISPSoft first for breadth, then pick up DIADesigner for new-project work.

How long does Delta PLC training take?

6 weeks at 8 hours/week for entry-level ISPSoft competence. Faster if you already know Mitsubishi or Omron addressing.

Can I learn Delta without the hardware?

ISPSoft has a built-in simulator. For fundamentals, use our browser simulator with the Delta dialect toggle.

Where to start

1. Sign up free and try the Delta dialect on the simulator.
2. Download ISPSoft (free) and install on Windows.
3. Port the 20 basic rungs to ISPSoft.
4. Buy a used DVP or AS-Series for hardware time if Delta is your target.

6 weeks, USD 150–500 end-to-end. Competent in a growing vendor that's increasingly appearing globally.

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Delta, DVP, AS, AH, and ISPSoft are trademarks of Delta Electronics, Inc. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Electronics, Inc.