The house was built in the 50's. Two wires are coming up from the switch and two wires are coming down from the top of the wall. I do not see a third wire. I attached the wall light wires left wires to left wires and right wires to right wires and light stayed on, when I moved the switch it threw the breaker. So I used may combination and the switch would not make the light work. It appears one wire may be white and one black. Help please!
The wire coming down from the wall is probably the power line. The wire going to the switch is meant to switch the hot lead lead only. Check the wires on the switch. There is probably a black and white on the switch. You will want to hook the white wire coming from above to the white wire on the light. Hook the black wire coming from above to the black wire going to the switch. Hook the white wire coming from the switch to the black wire on the light. While you are at it take black electrical tape and tape both ends of the white wire that runs to the switch. This will indicate that it is a hot lead.
I think that 'ed' has given you good advice, if you know *nothing* about electrical wiring inside of the average home and about how two-way switching is wired. The two-way switch is designed for two wall switches at different locations from a common light or other electrical appliance to be able to turn the common appliance 'on' or 'off' independently from each other. If you have one of the boxes that a new two-way switch came in, it should show you, with usual wiring installed under the modern U.S. standard electrical code, which colored wires should be attached to which terminal connections at the INDIVIDUAL, separate switches. Ordinarilary the color coding for electrical wiring in the modern residence is 'white' is for the common 'ground'; 'black' is a 'hot - 115/120 volt-to-ground' wire; and the red should be a loop wire to the common appliance. When one of the wall switches is in the 'on' (up) position, and the other wall switch is in the 'off' (down) position, electrical power is furnished to the appliance. Changing the position of either of the wall switches, cuts off the power to the appliance. And changing the position of either ONE of the switches will supply power again. If you've done any wiring before, you should be able to figure it out, but follow what 'ed' suggested if you can, just to be sure.
