Guys, thanks for the comments. I've edited my opening post above, because what I'd intended was to suggest that ECN was not the place for 'DIY instruction', but at the same time suggesting that DIY instruction was a good thing, and pointing out a different forum where it 'belongs'.
As I non-electrician, I feel a certain level of responsibility posting here...if I have a question, I feel obliged to crack the code book, do my own research, and then ask detailed questions based upon a certain amount of education, because I don't want to waste your time. I also feel obliged to contribute, and on the physics side of things I believe that I do offer something back to the community.
I entirely agree that there are real concerns associated with DIY work.
In response to Trumpy's question of 'Why then should we be required to give away our earned skills, to those who will never use those skills again after the job is done?.'
IMHO you should _not_ be required to give this stuff away. This is _charity_, and without limits and consideration it is dangerous. One of the things that frequently gets said on 'DIY.com' is 'Don't wait. Turn off the circuit breaker and pick up a phone and call an electrician _now_.' In limited doses, sharing this sort of knowledges can be good for your business. Someone who knows how to change a receptacle, and understands with their own hands the concept of 'workmanlike', but who also _knows their own limitations_ will be more likely to call a properly trained electrician rather than call some random 'handyman'. Such a person is also more likely to keep things fair for the professional electrician, by not putting up with shoddy work from electricians who shave dimes by being rather less than professional. (Personal example: in my lab space, the 'professional' electricians installed the EGCs for several new circuits by using a sheet metal screw to anchor a lug to the panel case, and then stuffing a number of wires into the lug. They didn't even bother sanding the paint off below the lug. Needless to say, this 'electrician' is not going to be hired here again...and there is a MA licence number on the van; this was not a 'handyman' job.)
-Jon
