Understanding Car Radio Diagrams: A Wire Diagram Identification Chart

• Posted on Autos.com Editor
• in Aftermarket Parts
• on October 7, 2013

Car radio diagrams contain symbols that most of us are not familiar with. Each car manufacturer uses their own wire color and abbreviations. It is very rare to find a car stereo chart that shows the same symbols or wire color. Below is a glossary of the common symbols found on car radio diagrams.

• 12V: Power (+12volts, Constant Power)
• 12Volt: Power (+12volts, Constant Power)
• IGN: Ignition (+12volts, Only When the Vehicle Is Running)
• PWR: Power (+12volts, Constant Power)
• POWER: Power (+12volts, Constant Power)
• CONSTANT 12V+: Power (+12volts, Always On)
• SWITCHED 12V+: Power (+12volts Only When the Vehicle Key Switch Is On)
• ACC: Accessory (+12volts When Key Is in Accessory Position)
• MEM: Memory (Typically a Constant +12volts Used for the Clock and Radio Settings)
• GND: Ground (Vehicle Chassis Connection, -12volts)
• NEG: Negative (Ground, Vehicle Chassis Connection, -12volts)
• DIM: Dimmer (Dimmer Control for Dash/Component Lights)
• ILL: Illumination (Dash/Component Lights)
• ANT: Power Antenna (Trigger Signal)
• TRG: Trigger (Trigger Signal for Antenna, Not the Power Amplifier Trigger from Radio)
• ANTENNA TRIG: Power Antenna (Trigger Signal)
• RF: Right Front Speaker (May have a (+) Following it, Connects to Speaker (+) Connection)
• RF-: Right Front Speaker, Minus Lead (Connects to the Speaker (-) Connection)
• LF: Left Front Speaker (May have a (+) Following it, Connects to Speaker (+) Connection)
• LF-: Left Front Speaker (Connects to the Speaker (-) Connection)
• RR: Right Rear Speaker (May have a (+) Following it, Connects to Speaker (+) Connection)
• RR-: Right Rear Speaker (Connects to the Speaker (-) Connection)
• LR: Left Rear Speaker (May Have a (+) Following it, Connects to Speaker (+) Connection)
• LR-: Left Rear Speaker (Connects to the Speaker (-) Connection)

Pay close attention to the wire color, and check three times before making your connections. Sometime the wire colors will be similar to each other, so it pays to be cautious.