Menu
Do you ever think that we should learn about radio wire color codes?
I never thought that until about a month ago, when my mother asked me to fix her old car radio. I did not remember precisely how I reacted but the whole process was a disaster.
The reason was I did not know which wire should be hooked up in another; or more precisely, I could not recall any of radio wire color codes. And it didn’t have a harness as well, which made the wires even more confused and everything went ultimately messed up. Therefore, it took me a half of the morning to finish the job and help my mother have brand new cables.
It was not a difficult job but truly made me realize how important we needed to remember wire color codes. And I know that many of people, including you, have not discovered why we need to know about them and what the feature of each wire is. So in this article today, I will show you the most basic things you need to know about them. If you are having any problems just like mine, I believe it would help you.
1. What are the wires color codes?
Some basic codes are approved in many countries and almost all of brands of cars and radios. I will mention about some different codes other vehicles in the next parts. For now, you won’t need to wonder if there would be any distinctions in each type.
SaleBestseller No. 1
WGGE WG-015 Professional 8-inch Wire Stripper/wire crimping tool, Wire Cutter, Wire Crimper, Cable Stripper, Wiring Tools and Multi-Function Hand Tool.
- ✅ 8 inch Professional Wire Stripper: Cuts, strips wire and loops 10-22 AWG Solid copper wire or aluminum cables.high carbon alloy steel with accurate stripping.
- ✅ Easy To Use: Strong-gripping serrated nose for easy bending, shaping, and pulling of wire
- ✅ Designed Grip Handle:Cutting action combined with ergonomic curved handle, designed non-slip rubber handle, which enables firm grip and eliminates hand fatigue
- ✅ ALL-IN-ONE: it's could be applied to crimping both insulated and non-insulated terminals
- ✅ 24 Month Warranty: Quality assurance. 24 Month warranty and 24/7 hours WGGE customer service
SaleBestseller No. 2
haisstronica Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper, 3 in 1 Stripper/Cutter/Crimping Heavy Duty Automatic Electrical Wire Strippers for 10-24 AWG
- Almost Endless Applications:Just one wire stripper tool is needed for wire stripping,wire cutting and crimping jobs.Perfect for anyone who needs to do any any of electrical work around the house.Ideal for technicians and home DIY
- Impeccable Build Quality:The wire stripper machine blades are heat-treated, polished,black-oxidized high-quality alloy steel materials.Durable and sharp.Handle any wire stripping jobs
- Covered:The automatic wire stripper tool works for wire gauge AWG 22-18(0.5-1mm²),AWG 22-10(0.5-6.0mm²),AWG 16-14(1.5-2.5mm²),AWG 12-10(4 -6.0mm²).For copper wire,cable wire,coaxial wire,hot wire and aluminum wire
- Ergonomic:The rubber handle ensures comfortable and swift operation.Easy to use and hassle-free
- Buyer Confidence: We stand behind the quality of our products. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We provide customers with quality services and a guarantee for risk-free purchases
SaleBestseller No. 3
Klein Tools 11061 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper / Wire Cutter, Heavy Duty, for 10-20 AWG Solid, 12-22 AWG Stranded, and Romex Wire 12/2 and 14/3
- VERSATILE WIRE STRIPPER AND CUTTER: For stripping and cutting on 10-20 AWG solid, 12-22 AWG stranded, and 12/2 and 14/2 Romex cable (all sizes) and other nonmetallic (type NM) sheathed cable
- ADJUSTABLE: Control the length of the core strip with the adjustable stopper
- IMPROVED PERFORMANCE: Precise stripping of smaller gauge wire with the tensioning thumb wheel
- HANDLE FEATURE: Equipped with an integrated wire cutter for added convenience
- REDUCED HAND FATIGUE: Grooved grips on the handles provide ergonomic support
SaleBestseller No. 4
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper, 8 inch, Cuts 10-22 AWG, Plier Style Nose, ProTouch Grip for Maximum Comfort (2078309)
- Wire cutter with induction hardened cutting edge stays sharp longer
- Strips and cuts 10-22 AWG
- Pliers style nose allows wire stripper to pull and loop in wire
- Bolt cutter cuts bolts to size and leaves perfect lead thread
- Crimps insulated and non-insulated terminals
SaleBestseller No. 5
Klein Tools 11063W Wire Cutter / Wire Stripper, Heavy Duty Automatic Wire Stripper Tool for 8-20 AWG Solid and 10-22 AWG Stranded Electrical Wire
- Wire Stripper and Cutter cuts and strips 8-20 AWG solid and 10-22 AWG stranded wire with ease
- Compound action stripping: grip and strip via single-action squeezing motion
- Precision machined stripping holes easily remove insulation without damaging the wire
- Removes up to 1-Inch (25 mm) in length of the insulation layer (jacket layer) in a single step
- Tension loaded wire-grip gently holds the cable while retaining cable geometry
SaleBestseller No. 6
Klein Tools 11055 Wire Cutter and Wire Stripper, Made in Usa, Stranded Wire Cutter, Solid Wire Cutter, Cuts Copper Wire
- Cuts, strips, and loops 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded wire and cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws
- Precision ground stripping holes
- Strong-gripping serrated nose for easy bending, shaping, and pulling of wire
- Holes for looping and bending wire
- Made in USA
Bestseller No. 7
KAIWEETS Automatic Wire Stripper and Cutter, 2 in 1 Wire Stripper Tool, Adjustable 10-24 AWG Electrical Cable Wire Stripping Tool for Electronic and Automotive Repair
- 2 in 1 Stripping & Cutting : The electrical wire stripping tool strips accurately and cleanly on both solid core and stranded wires from 10 to 24 AWG (0.2 mm² -5.5 mm² ). It's especially great for stripping speaker wire and flat ribbon cable. It also cuts wires quickly
- Self Adjusting Wire Stripper : Eagle nose stripping pliers design can be used in narrow spaces. Adjustable wire stopper for adjusting the stripping length (up to 1 inch). A tension adjustment knob for the pulling strength according to different wires, can avoid excessive pulling force from damaging the copper core of the wire
- High Quality & Easy Use : Wire Strippers made of 50 steel and nylon, non-slip handle, well-built and ergonomic, compact, lightweight, and solid. Really makes stripping wires vastly easier and faster than traditional strippers
- Application : Maintenance on electronic devices, home appliances, household lighting systems, and children’s electrical toys. Nice gifts for DIY people, electricians, and repairmen
- Customer Service : 36-month after-sale service and lifelong technical support is guaranteed. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if there are any questions with our Wire Stripping Tool
SaleBestseller No. 8
CREWORKS Manual Wire Stripper Machine, 0.06"-1" Wire Stripping Machine, Wire Stripping Tool for 1.5-25 mm Scrap Wire, 5 Channel Cable Stripper for Power Drill, Copper Wire Stripper for Leftover Cable
- Wire Stripping Made Easy: The Creworks manual wire stripping machine features an easy-to-handle hand crank to power its steel blade and remove insulation from scrap wires. Connect your power drill to this wire stripper for automatic cranking
- Big or Small, We Strip It All: The 5 separate feed holes on this cable stripper cover wires from 0.06" to 1" (1.5 to 25 mm), letting you safely and easily handle the most common wire sizes
- Effortless Operation: Set the blade height to suit your exact needs using the adjustment knob, feed your leftover cable through the appropriate hole, and turn the hand crank to peel off the insulation
- Clean Cut Every Time: This wire stripping tool's alloy steel blade maintains its sharp edge for clean cuts with each use. The reinforced aluminum frame ensures dependable and long-lasting use
- Portable on the Go: This cable stripping machine is small and easy to carry. Take it from your home to shed, workshop, or worksite, and turn your scrap wires into valuable treasure wherever needed
Bestseller No. 9
Hizmivos Manual Wire Stripping Machine Gauge Wire 0.06-1 inches,Scrapping Copper Wire Peeler Machine,Drill Powered Hand Crank Wire Stripper Tool for Scrap Copper Recycling
- ✅ Effortless Wire Stripping: Hizmivos Manual Wire Stripping Machine saves time and effort with its automated wire stripping process, making it perfect for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike. The adjustable settings ensure precise and clean wire stripping, reducing the risk of damage to the wire.
- ✅ Dual-design Operation Ways: This wire stripping machine offers the flexibility of both motor-driven and hand-cranked operation. With the hand crank, you can conveniently operate the machine manually. If your arms get tired from tedious hand operation, simply connect it to an electric drill via the connector for drill-driven operation.
- ✅ Versatile Compatibility: The wire stripping tool features different sized feeding holes, accommodating wires in diameter from 0.06" to 1". You can adjust the blade up and down by twisting the regulating nut, making it suitable for various cable sizes.
- ✅ Compact and Portable: Designed to be compact and lightweight, the Hizmivos Wire Stripper Machine allows you to take it anywhere and use it conveniently, saving you valuable workspace.
- ⚠️Important Note: Each of our products is treated with a protective coating（oil） before leaving the factory to ensure optimal performance. Minor scratches during transportation are normal. Rest assured, we provide a 3-year warranty and durable steel blades for your peace of mind. Our blades are hardened to increase strength and durability, extending their lifespan.
Bestseller No. 10
DOWELL 10-22 AWG Wire Stripper Cutter Wire Stripping Tool And Multi-Function Hand Tool，Professional Handle Design And Refined Craftsmanship.
- 【Convenience】This wire strippers can quickly and easily remove the insulation from wires, making them ready to use. It has a range of 10-22 AWG, making it suitable for different wire sizes.
- 【Versatility】This wire stripper also has cutting functionality and can cut copper wires, fine iron wires and more, making it ideal for various electronic engineering and repair tasks.
- 【Safety】 Using a wire stripper can reduce the risk of accidental injury, as it can quickly and accurately remove wire insulation without using manual tools that could cut your fingers. Additionally, there is a safety lock on this wire stripper, which can protect you when not using.
- 【Quality】This wire stripper is made of high-quality materials and can withstand long-term and continuous use. This makes it a reliable tool for engineers and DIY enthusiasts.
- 【Affordability】While some high-end wire strippers may be expensive, this wire stripper is reasonably priced. This makes it a must-have tool for many people, with a long lifespan that provides great value for money.
Following table and installing your radio won’t be such a hard work anymore
You can watch this video for more explanation:
2. Why do we need them?
We need the wire codes mostly for emergencies. My situation is one example, which I needed to repair my mother’s aftermarket radio and didn’t want to waste time searching Google. Learning the functions of each wire saved me quite a lot of money for technical guys, who never undercharge. And if you memorize them, you won’t need so much time like me to find out which wires need being connected with each other. The entire installing process would be very smooth and comfortable.
Besides, you will also know why we need different color codes if you discover a little about their origins. I guess hardly anyone knows that the wires did not have as many colors as they are now. The original ones started being used when Thomas Edison commercialized light bulbs more than a century ago, which were only made with three basic colors: Black, Gray, and Red. Radio wires were invented about 50 years after that and could not avoid being made with the same format.
SaleBestseller No. 1
16 AWG Gauge Speaker Wire Cable Stereo, Car or Home Theater, CCA (100 Feet) by Install Link
- PREMIUM SPEAKER WIRE [ Frosted Red/Black | 100-feet (30.5m) | 16 Gauge ] - Featuring a double conductor, this stranded wire is constructed from high-grade copper and aluminum. It is perfect for achieving outstanding audio performance, exceptional flexibility, easy stripping and great polarity identification.
- COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - Made with an aluminum core and coated with a layer of copper, this cost effective speaker wire provides great conductivity with minimal signal loss.
- PERFECT FOR - Designed to provide adequate performance for any home theater system, car audio speakers or professional studio. It's a great choice for both DIY enthusiasts and professionals.
- SIMPLE INSTALLATION - Use this wire to easily connect your home theater or car audio speakers to any A/V receiver or amplifier.
- SOFTFLEX JACKET - Our wire is shielded with a soft and flexible jacket, which not only provides a great appearance, but also ensures maximum durability and easy installation.
Bestseller No. 2
TUOFENG Electronic Wire, 22 AWG Solid Core Hookup Wires-6 Colors, 30ft/9m Each, Tinned Copper, PVC, Ideal for Prototyping Circuits & Breadboarding
- TUOFENG Solid Single Core Wire 1007 22 AWG Hook-Up Wire: Solid tinned copper conductor with a PVC sheath.
- Solid Hookup Wire Good abrasion resistance and resistance to substances such as oil,solvents and chemicals: PVC Insulation that can withstand heats of up to 80 degrees C.
- 22awg Solid Wire Easy handling,stripping,and termination: Low-fray design.
- Insulation: PVC .010".Voltage Rating: 300 Volts,Flame retardant: VW-1.
- 22awg solid wire :6 different colored 30 Feet / 9 M spools :Red, black, green, yellow, blue, white,tinned copper wire
SaleBestseller No. 3
Amazon Basics 16-Gauge Speaker Wire Cable, 50 Feet
- IN THE BOX: 16 gauge speaker wire cable (50 feet)
- CLEAR AUDIO: Plastic jacket helps ensure high-quality undistorted signals to and from audio equipment
- CONVENIENT: Connects audio speakers to an A/V receiver or amplifier
- SIMPLE INSTALL: White line on one side of wire indicates the polarity for a proper audio system set up
- EASY DISPENSING: Comes wrapped around a hard plastic spool for simple dispensing
Bestseller No. 4
Askcable 18 Gauge 100 Feet Speaker Wire Cable 18AWG Speaker Wire 2 Conductors Wire Extension Cord Great Use for Car Speakers Stereos Home Theater Speakers Surround Sound Radio Black Red
- 【High Quality Speaker Wire】Askcable professional grade speaker wire audio cable designed for custom installations. 100 feet of 18 gauge speaker wire ideal for speaker Installations. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow
- 【Save Installation Time】Only one cable to run.Ultra-flex outer jacket for maximum flexibility, use this Speaker Wire to pair with banana plugs, spade tips, or bent pin connectors to connect your speakers to A/V receiver or amplifier with this Askcable Speaker Wire
- 【Perfect Performance】Speaker Wire operating temperature rating of -20℃ of 70℃ respectively. The jacket material is flexible and environmental friendly PVC, which can be twisted and extended it freely as you like
- 【Easy Polarity Identification】This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance
- 【Advantage of Copper clad aluminum】CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio, ensuring high fidelity sound quality and providing maximum's conductivity and durability without paying the additional cost. The product go through many states of testing to ensure the highest performance and reliability
SaleBestseller No. 5
InstallGear 14 Gauge Speaker Wire 100 ft Cable, 14 AWG Speaker Wire Cable, True Spec Soft Touch Cables | Great use for Car Audio Speaker Wire, Stereos, Home Theater Speakers, Surround Sound
- FROSTED BLUE/BLACK 14 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE 100 FT (30.5m) - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.
- OPPER CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. This is the most economical option when choosing speaker wires to use as radio wires or car audio speaker wire.
- RUGGED PVC JACKET - Allows free, wide and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.
- EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.
- SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.
Bestseller No. 6
Scosche FD16B Compatible with Select 1998-04 Ford Power/Speaker Connector / Wire Harness for Aftermarket Stereo Installation with Color Coded Wires
- Connects to the factory stereo harnesses when installing an aftermarket stereo
- Not compatible with factory amplified systems
- Direct Connection to the factory harness without cutting any wires
- Manufactured with factory quality wire and Connector / Wire Harness for Aftermarket Stereo Installation with Color Coded Wires
- EIA industry standard color coded wires for an easier installation
Bestseller No. 7
Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness For Toyota 87-Up Power 4 Speaker
- Plugs Into Car Harness At Radio
- Powers 4 Speakers
- Great For All Your Needs
- Easy To Use
Bestseller No. 8
InstallGear 14 Gauge Speaker Wire Cable (30 Foot) - 14 AWG True Spec and Soft Touch Cable - Speaker Cable Wire - Car Speakers Stereos, Home Theater Speakers, Surround Sound, Radio - Red/Black
- 30-FEET (9.14m) RED/BLACK 12 GAUGE SPEAKER WIRE - The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Thicker wire presents less resistance to current flow.
- COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM (CCA) - CCA wiring provides a good conductor for transmitting audio. This is the most economical option when choosing speaker wire. Great use for car speakers stereos, home theater speakers, surround sound, radio, and more!
- RUGGED PVC JACKET - The rugged PVC jacket of this speaker cable wire allows free, wide, and seamless adjustment of the required physical properties of this wire, such as flexibility, elasticity, and impact resistance.
- EASY POLARITY IDENTIFICATION - This two color jacket allows for easy polarity identification. Making a polarity mistake could be damaging to your audio equipment.
- SOFT TOUCH JACKET - The jacket on our cable is designed with the installer in mind. The flexibility of this jacket allows for easy routing and has a low memory.
SaleBestseller No. 9
GS Power 12 Gauge Wire - 100 Foot Copper Clad Aluminum Cable Roll, Red & Black Bonded Wiring for Outdoor Speaker, Automotive Radio or Home Theater
- 12 Gauge stranded Copper Coated Aluminum CCA Red/Black bonded Zip Wire that pulls apart easily
- Automotive Grade "GPT" PVC insulation. Oil & gas resistant. Temperature Range: -40 deg F to +176 deg F
- Comes conveniently in a spool roll. Perfect for Radio, Stereo, Home Theater, Robotics, R/C
- NOTE: This is NOT oxygen free copper (ofc) wire and is not based on AWG (American Wire Gauge)
- Alternative to OFC copper wire. Achieves 80% conductivity.
SaleBestseller No. 10
Metra 70-1721 Blue Wiring Harness for 1998-2013 Acura/Suzuki/Honda Vehicles, Blue
- Plugs into car harness
- Power/4 Speaker
- 20-Pin plug
- Allows for the installation of an aftermarket radio using the existing factory wiring and connectors
- For 1998 Honda, connect power and 4 speakers
Therefore, if you ever find a radio with one three colors that I have mentioned above, you should not use it. I’m sure it was made over 30 years ago and would not meet any electrical safety requirements that are set up at the present.
Car Stereo Wiring Explained In Detail
3. Some other color codes
BMW Cars:
| Wires | Colors | Functions |
| Power cable | Violet | Control the switch, which turns the radio on and off |
| Ground cable | Brown | Connect your radio desk with amplifier and adjust the current |
| Constant Power Cable | Gray with stripe Red | Keep the battery in stable condition |
| Amp turn on wire | White | Work as an antenna and adjust the signal |
| Illumination | White with stripe Blue | Increase the light of the radio screen |
| Dimmer | Not used | |
| Speaker wire | Gray with stripe Red | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Gray with stripe Violet | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Gray with stripe White | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Gray with stripe Brown | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Black with stripe Red | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Black with stripe Violet | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Black with stripe White | Rear right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Black with stripe Brown | Rear right speaker |
Ford Cars:
| Wires | Colors | Functions |
| Power cable | Yellow with stripe Black | Control the switch, which turns the radio on and off |
| Ground cable | Black or Red | Connect your radio desk with amplifier and adjust the current |
| Constant Power Cable | Green with stripe Yellow | Keep the battery in stable condition |
| Amp turn on wire | Blue | Work as an antenna and adjust the signal |
| Illumination | Orange | Increase the light of the radio screen |
| Dimmer | Orange with stripe White | Decrease the light of the radio screen |
| Speaker wire | Orange with stripe Green | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Light Blue | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | White with stripe Green | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Green with stripe Orange | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Pink with stripe Green | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Pink with stripe Blue | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Pink with stripe Blue | Rear right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Green with stripe Orange | Rear right speaker |
Mazda Cars:
| Wires | Colors | Functions |
| Power cable | Blue with stripe White | Control the switch, which turns the radio on and off |
| Ground cable | Black | Connect your radio desk with amplifier and adjust the current |
| Constant Power Cable | Blue with stripe Red | Keep the battery in stable condition |
| Amp turn on wire | Blue | Work as an antenna and adjust the signal Some wires need a relay due to a negative terminal trigger |
| Illumination | Red with stripe Black | Increase the light of the radio screen |
| Dimmer | Not used | |
| Speaker wire | Blue | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe White | Front left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe Red | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe Orange | Front right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe White | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe Green | Rear left speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe Orange | Rear right speaker |
| Speaker wire | Blue with stripe Black | Rear right speaker |
Conclusion
Regardless, thank you for reading my article about radio wire color codes. I hope you have had a great time with it and if you have any opinions or questions, do comment. I would love to reply. Goodbye, and I look forward to see you in my subsequent writings.
