Hi dizzy:
I was in private contracting (not for myself) for 15 yrs, then I taught electricity in the public school system for 5 (til the bums shut my shop) now I'm a gov't electrician. I can probably answer most of your questions but the answers will be too long to put here. Drop me a line at stevemiller@technologist.com and I'll be glad to send a lengthy reply to whatever address you tell me.