I'm trying to install an all in one ceiling fan/light control wall switch. My wiring is old & no longer color coded inside the wall switch box. There are 2 wires connected together inside the box which I know are hot & 3 others I need to identify. There are 2 wires at the ceiling box, white & black. I've already shorted out one control switch by incorrectly wiring it. How do I wire this correctly?

What was originally in the box, how many switches, and connected how?

It Was An Ordinary Single On/off Switch.

1. What wires were connected to the single on/off switch

2. How many wires does your new control have?

My new fan has 3 wires, 1 for fan, 1 for light & 1 for power. 2 hot wires spliced together & 2 other separate wires I could not identify were connected to the old switch.

If I understand you correctly, you are replacing a single on-off wall switch, yes?

You cannot install a 3 wire wall switch in place of a 2 wire switch.