The wiring in your car stereo is not always the easiest thing to understand since the wires have different types and colours.
One of the wires that can be confused with others is the illumination wire. So, what does the illumination wire do on a car radio? Let’s find out.
Generally speaking, the illumination wire is one of the wires coming out of the stereo harness and is used to dim the radio’s screen and light the radio controls. The illumination wire is connected directly to your car’s lighting system, and it sends a direct signal to the stereo as soon you turn the headlights on or off.
As an Amazon Associate, ImproveCarAudio will receive a small commission from qualifying purchases made through the links in this article.
Tip: While working with the radio wiring, you can rely on the colors of the wires, but it is handy to have a good voltmeter and make sure all cables are connected to the right places.
The multimeter that I use a lot, and I am happy with its quality, is the AstroAI TRMS 6000. It is easy to use, and it makes precise measurements of all electric parameters.
In the article below, I will show you what the illumination wire is, how it works, and how to connect it with the radio and car installation.
What Does the Illumination Wire Do on a Car Stereo?
The illumination wire is used to transfer the signal from your headlight switch through the wiring harness to the wire attached to the car stereo.
This is especially important when driving at night because you do not want the light from the screen to be too bright, which is a safety hazard when you’re driving at night!
When the headlight switch is turned on, it will switch power to the car stereo through this cable, activating an internal circuit that controls how much light is shone from the display.
On the other hand, turning off the headlights will cut power from this wire and keep the screen at its whole light.
Note that some radios have a separate illumination wire for day and night mode. When the sun goes down, power is transferred from day mode to night mode so that you can see your radio clearly while driving at nighttime.
How to Connect Illumination Wire to the Car Stereo?
If you install a new car stereo into your vehicle that does not have the illumination wire attached, you need to know how to connect it yourself.
The few steps below will show you how to add an illumination wire to the stereo:
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal under the hood using the socket wrench and the correct insert.
- Locate the orange wire at the back of the stereo’s wire harness. In some radios, it can be an orange wire with a white stripe. To make sure you have the correct wire, check the colour code with the radio manual or the label at the top of the radio.
- Find the matching wire on the wire harness adapter that interfaces with the factory harness in the dash cavity. Look closely at the labelling on the wire harness adapter to ascertain which wire is the illumination lead.
To make sure you have the correct wire, you can make a simple test using a voltmeter or a bulb.
Turn parking lights on, and connect one probe to the tested wire and another probe to the car chassis. If you see on the display 12V after touching a probe to the wire, this is the wire you are looking for.
- If you found the corresponding wire in the car installation, the next step is to strip 0.5 to 1 inch from the flying ends of both illumination wires.
- Insert the wires into opposite ends of a 16-gauge crimp connector and crimp it using the crimping tool. Squeeze firmly to secure the wires into the connector in the same way as for all other cables you connect.
- Reconnect the negative battery terminal after all harness wiring is complete.
- Turn on the radio and test by turning the headlights on. A correctly connected radio should dim with the lights on, then return to normal brightness when off.
What Is the Voltage on the Car Radio Illumination Wire?
The voltage on the illumination wire is 12 volts, which is provided by the car’s alternator while the engine is running.
Through the illumination wire, your car stereo will receive a constant signal as soon as you turn the lights on, and this allows for an automatic dimming of the display screen.
Is the Illumination Wire Necessary in Car Radio?
The car’s illumination wire is an essential part of the stereo because it provides a constant signal to your radio’s screen.
Without this wire, your car radio cannot receive a signal while the lights are on, which means that you will not be able to dim the radio screen after sunset.
What is the difference between illumination wire and dimmer wire?
The Illumination wire puts out 12V anytime your headlights are on, and the dimmer wire puts out between 0 and +12V depending on the brightness you have the headlights turned to.
The dimmer wire allows the radio to dim with the rest of the indicator lights. Many older cars do not have it, but these days, you will find a dimmer wire in most cars.
Because most of the aftermarket radios are either completely dim or completely bright, it doesn’t really make a difference to which wire you will connect the orange one from the radio harness.
A dimming wire is especially useful if you have a large screen head unit that can be really bright at night.
If you have the dimmer wire connected, as soon as you turn on your headlights, the radio dims, and you don’t have a bright monitor shining right at you when you’re driving.
Conclusion
The illumination wire will tell the car stereo when to turn on and off. When a car’s headlights are turned on, a signal is sent from the headlight switch through the wiring harness to the illumination wire attached to the car stereo.
This is important when driving at night, and you do not want the light from the screen to be too bright.
FAQ
Where to Connect Orange Illumination Wire in Car?
The illumination wire from the stereo must be connected to the illumination wire coming out of the dashboard.
The purpose of the orange wire is to make the controls on the radio’s screen dim when the lights are turned on.
The illumination wire comes out of the back of the stereo, and you need to connect it to the orange wire from the dash. If you don’t have a standard radio harness, you need to identify your illumination wire.
The best way to find out which one is the illumination wire is to use a bulb meter or standard voltmeter:
- When the lights are off, there will be no voltage and zero reading on the meter.
- When you turn the parking lights on, it will go to 12 volts, and the test light will illuminate.
What Is Orange Illumination Wire?
The orange illumination wire is responsible for dimming and lighting up the display on your car stereo, and it receives the signal directly from the car lights switch.
In some cases, the orange wire can be replaced with another colour wire, often white, but this is rare.
How to Connect Orange Illumination Wire in Car?
The illumination wire adjusts the display’s brightness on an aftermarket radio’s faceplate and is connected directly to the vehicle’s lights.
To connect the illumination wire to the car, follow the steps below:
#1. Disconnect the ground wire from the car battery.
#2. Find the orange wire at the back of the stereo’s wire harness. Although the wire should be orange, it can be white on some radios. If you are not sure about your stereo’s illumination wire colour, check the manual.
#3. Next, find the matching wire on the wire harness adapter.
In this case, the aftermarket adapter’s colours should match the vehicle’s wire colours.
#4. Strip 1 inch from the free end of both illumination wires, and connect the wires together. You can do it by soldering them or using the crimp connector.
#5. Use the crimp connector and squeeze it firmly to secure the wires inside the connector.
#6. When both orange wires are connected, reconnect the negative battery terminal.
#7. Finally, turn the radio on and turn the headlights on to test if the dimming works.
The radio should dim with the lights on, then return to normal brightness when off.
What to Do if Radio Does Not Have Illumination Wire?
If your radio does not have an orange illumination wire, it means that you cannot dim the radio’s screen.
Orange illumination wire can be connected to various equipment, but it is not always included in-car radios.
What Is the Dimmer Wire for in a Car Stereo?
The dimmer wire (illumination wire) connects the radio and a vehicle to let the radio know that the lights are on.
When the lights are on, the signal dims the display on the radio so that when you know your headlights are on, then the system receives the signal that there is dark outside, and it needs to dim a radio screen, so it’s not blaring in your face while you’re driving.
What Does Illumination Mean on a Radio?
The “ill” on a radio refers to the illumination wire.
The illumination wire is responsible for lighting up the display on your car stereo. If this wire is not connected, the display will not be dimmed and may be too bright when it is dark outside.
Can I Connect Illumination Wire to 12V?
If you connect the illumination wire to the 12V constant, the screen on your car radio will always be dimmed.
However, keep in mind that this may make it difficult to see the screen in normal light conditions during the day.
Does the Illumination Wire Have to Be Connected?
The illumination wire does not have to be connected for the car radio to work.
However, if your stereo has the illumination wire and you do not connect it, the screen on your car radio will not be dimmed and may be too bright when it is dark outside.
What Are Illumination Wires in Car Stereos?
Illumination wires in car stereos control the lighting of the stereo faceplate in your car.
This helps ensure that the buttons and displays on your car stereo are visible, even in low light conditions.
How Do I Find the Correct Wire Harness for My Aftermarket Car Stereo?
To find the suitable wire harness for your aftermarket car stereo, you’ll need to know the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
This information will help you determine which wire harness is compatible with your car audio system.
Some aftermarket stereo companies may also offer a profile finder tool on their website to help you identify the correct wire harness for your specific car.
What Is the Power Wire for in a Car Stereo Wiring Harness?
The power wire in a car stereo wiring harness carries electrical power to the stereo.
This power is used to power the stereo’s internal components, such as the amplifier, and to provide a source of electricity for any external devices you may have connected to the stereo, such as subwoofers or speakers.
What Are the Common Wire Colors in a Factory Car Stereo Wiring Harness?
The wire colors in a factory car stereo wiring harness can vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle.
However, some of the most common wire colors include red (power), yellow (memory), and black (ground).
It’s important to check the wiring diagram for your specific vehicle to determine the correct wire colors for your factory car stereo wiring harness.
Can I Use a Factory Stereo Wire Harness for an Aftermarket Car Stereo?
You can use a factory stereo wire harness for an aftermarket car stereo, but make sure the wire harness is compatible with both your factory car stereo and the aftermarket car stereo you’re installing.
If the wire harnesses are incompatible, you may need to purchase an aftermarket wiring harness designed specifically for your vehicle.