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 specializing 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
- Sign up free and try the Delta dialect on the simulator.
- Download ISPSoft (free) and install on Windows.
- Port the 20 basic rungs to ISPSoft.
- 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.
Delta, DVP, AS, AH, and ISPSoft are trademarks of Delta Electronics, Inc. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Electronics, Inc.