I have 2 black 2white 1 red wires going to wall outlet and ceiling light. I want to change light switch. How do I connect the wires . Thanks

Once again, HUH?

Start by telling us what wires are at what locations.
How was it wired before? If you are changing a switch just put it back the way it was.

There are only 2 wires on the switch, either black, red or retasked white. How were they connected before?

I wasn't the person who disconnected the old switch so I don't know how it was set up. My kid thought he would "help me out" and start the job. Sounds familiar...
The old switch went to 4 recessed lights in kitchen. Now I have 2 black wires 2 white wires and 1 red wire going to the box where the switch was. What gets connected to what? A mess... thanks

You are going to have to determine which wire is hot and which is not. This is best done with a meter, not expensive.
You could have power coming to the switch box on the two wire cable, with uninterrupt power going to the light fixture box on one wire (either black or red) and power going through the switch to the light itself on the other wire (either black or red).

Or you could have power coming into the switch box on one wire of the three wire cable (either black or red) with a return to the light itself on the other wire of the three wire cable and power going on to some other fixture on the two wire cable.

Get a meter and tell which wires have voltage and then we can help you.

Do you know where it is fed from? Was the wall outlet switched as well as the lights?

[QUOTE=hkstroud;3213902]You are going to have to determine which wire is hot and which is not. This is best done with a meter, not expensive.
You could have power coming to the switch box on the two wire cable, with uninterrupt power going to the light fixture box on one wire (either black or red) and power going through the switch to the light itself on the other wire (either black or red).

Or you could have power coming into the switch box on one wire of the three wire cable (either black or red) with a return to the light itself on the other wire of the three wire cable and power going on to some other fixture on the two wire cable.

Get a meter and tell which wires have voltage and then we can help you.[

[QUOTE=FE523;3233224]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

You are going to have to determine which wire is hot and which is not. This is best done with a meter, not expensive.
You could have power coming to the switch box on the two wire cable, with uninterrupt power going to the light fixture box on one wire (either black or red) and power going thru the switch to the light itself on the other wire (either black or red).

Or you could have power coming into the switch box on one wire of the three wire cable (either black or red) with a return to the light itself on the other wire of the three wire cable and power going on to some other fixture on the two wire cable.

Get a meter and tell which wires have voltage and then we can help you.[

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There is one black hot wire

O.K. but which one? The one in th 2-wire cable or the one in the 3-wire cable?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

O.K., but which one? The one in th 2-wire cable or the one in the 3-wire cable?

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The one in 2 wire cable