My wall switch has had a black and red wire connected to the...

[richards724]

My wall switch has had a black and red wire connected to the switch. The white wire was covered by a wire nut with no fourth wire coming out. I replaced the switch thinking it was bad because it was not turning on the ceiling light. I see in your diagram the white has to be connected to pole switch. What about the red wire where does that one goes? also does it matter where the wires go?

[markmark]

Unfortunately, in the world of residential electric, there is not a "standard operating procedure" regarding wiring light switches. In a typical lighting circuit, there is the wire with the power feeding the switch, and the wire from the switch feeding power to the light fixture, this wire is called the switch leg. In your case, you need to see what color wire is feeding your light fixture. In your case, re-connect the wires to the switch as you originally found them. That being the black and red wires connected to the switch, and the white wire being capped off, because it is not being used in the circuit. I am going to guess, in your case, that the light fixture is bad. A light switch rarely goes bad.