Sort of, in my view Delta is the no frills/cut price version of digital. They've made several Delta decoders over the years (discontinued now so far as I know) some of the later ones went as far as having a function like to switch on or off the lights and had more addresses available but to put it in a nutshell:

Delta means
1)a very limited amount of fix addresses to choose from.
2)no control over functions, light,smoke,etc.
3)They still use the AC motor which means less control over the running properties.

Delta basically was a basic system that allowed for the control of four locomotives using a single transformer. It also permitted the use of those locomotives on digital layouts using the 4 addresses that Maerklin preassigned for Delta operation. Delta locomotives do not have separate features that can be controlled using the digital function buttons. As far as I remember, Delta was limited to the four addresses, which were the equivalent of Motorola digital decoder addresses (6080/6090) with only one of the available four dip switches set to on at a time.

Regards

Mike C

Hi Tom,
I know your knowledge on the technicalities of Marklin goes well beyond mine but I've got the feeling you did not read my whole post, only the conclusion.

I did mention those exceptions you are making except the motor. Probably most of my Delta have only four switches, no function and definitely all have a regular AC motor. Since when you buy a Delta loco you don't normally have information on the decoder that comes with it the worse can be assumed that is particularly important for a member that doesn't know them and could be disappointed if he is given the impression that Delta is just about the same as a full digital decoder.
Alex

Tom,

Since I've never even touched Delta, I went straight from analogue to CS2, based on your comments here concerning it, I know and understand that Delta is digital, but is it compatible with the latest and greatest, could for example the Delta ICE set run on a layout controlled by a CS2 as is, or would some modifications need to be made? (Assuming it was AC powered). This is just my curiosity coming out

Thanks in advance

Delta is digital, but a little bit restrained.
The last Delta decoders did have 80 addresses + lights on/off. The last Delta controller also had a function button.

The earlier generations with 4 DIP-switches or 4 solder bridges had 16 addresses (but the electronic logic was capable of 80 if board was modified).

For possible addresses with the older Delta decoders, see this page.

The confusion comes about because of Marklins use of the marketing term "Digital" when referring to one of the several "digital control & decoding" systems that it produced over the years.

"digital" as a technology means there is digital data (addresses, modes, function on/off, etc) encoded in the track power, which a decoder on a consuming device such as a locomotive or switch can recognize as "addressed to it" and then decode the digital signal and take some action based on what the message says. The "digital" technology sees this digital data encoded and modulated on top of the power on the tracks.

"Digital" is a Märklin system brand name, like "Delta" or "System", and uses "digital" technology to transmit messages from a controller to consumers (eg locomotives).

Delta was an entry level digital system, using a reduced feature decoder. Initially it used solder jumpers as the address selection (the very earliest ones may have had DIP switches) with the four switches being the same as the odd numbered DIP switches on the full digital decoder.

The addresses were assigned to different classes of transport. This was done by using only one switch at a time to select the address to make it simple for the new entrant into the digital world. The classes to which the addresses were assigned were 'steam loco', electric loco', 'diesel loco', and 'railcar'. There was also a fifth selection which had all four switches on and this required an additional hand control that plugged onto a pair of connectors on the Delta control unit. The idea seemed to be that this would be for a 'premium Delta' loco that would be supplied with the additional hand piece and I am aware of only one loco provided like this, I think a Br50. The hand pece was also available as a separate item.

The original Delta controller had a selector switch with symbols for the different classes of loco. The speed was controlled by the speed know on the transformer originally used for AC control. This controller only knew the four addresses for the four pre-defined classes plus the additional hand piece. These four addresses have carried over into the IR controller and wired controller used in the Aldi start sets.

Locos that were supplied as Delta locos came with the address preset for the appropriate class of loco it represented. This meant that when little Hans opened his Christmas or Birthday present he could turn the knob on the Delta controller to the appropriate class and run his new item immediately without having to do any set up. I believe the entry level locos supplied now are still set this way to allow operation with the IR control supplied with start sets.

Sorry, but that is nonsense.
Digital locos with 36xx numbers do not have load regulation, they do not have acceleration/braking delay, some have the lights always on - and still they are "märklin digital". Even some 37xxx locos do not have load regulation (but they should all have acceleration/braking delay).

BTW: 36xx locos on analogue layouts have their lights off, Delta locos have the lights on.

Don't expect too much when buying the first Delta loco. Don't expect too much when buying old "digital" locos (26xx, 36xx, 29xx).

Märklin "digital" started around 1985 with the 6080 decoder. Better do not make general statements about "märklin digital" if you do not have at least one loco with 6080 decoder and AC/DC motor.

There are Delta controller that can control the headlights of digital locos, there are Delta controllers where the lights are always on, there are Delta controllers where the lights are always off.
Märklin has a clear system: everything is possible.

For most conversions that start with a delta loco you can pretend it was analogue. You still need to change the motor to a permanent magnet, add a decoder, re-wire the lights, etc.

Marklin have only recently started putting plug-in decoders in their locos, so no delta loco will be so equipped.

The process varies from loco to loco.
The conversion of Delta locos with AC/DC motor is not easier than that of analogue locos with a 33xx or 34xx number, as Ray already pointed out. With analogue 30xx or 31xx locos the conversion of the lights can be a bit more complicated.
This conversion case is well documented - you can look at the manuals for 60760 or 60942 (even if you use ESU decoders for the conversion).

I'm about to convert two railcars, Märklin 3683 (full "digital") and 34831 (Delta).
They already have DC motors. The cable colours indicate the function of a cable, so I know where the cables of the new decoder have to be connected.
Both railcars have the same PCB, but the configuration differs. One PCB has 3 capacitors - two have to be removed for modern decoders.
One has a closed solder bridge that is open on the other - and vice versa. I will change that to get flicker-free lights.

Most Märklin decoders use "Märklin colours", some use "NMRA colours". ESU decoders use NMRA colours. Another detail you have to pay attention to.


Long story short: there is not a single guide that explains it all. But if you have a question about a specific conversion, just ask on the forum and you will probably get some help. Show some photos if no one has done the conversion before.

The standard AC/DC motor has a field coil. DC motors have a permanent magnet.
First photo in post #4 shows a field coil (AC/DC motor):
https://www.marklin-user...15-Crocodiles#post413386

They used AC/DC motors (with field coil) and DC motors (permanent magnet).