as you have now gathered richard their is quite alot of arrogant and close nit sparks on here who dont want to give advice even though i mention it numerous times that this is a forum site to gain information, i can see the point of what they are trying to say but i can also see the point more of those wanting to ask questions about electrical matters, they work on the principle if you need to ask you should not do the job yourself (in a kinder way of saying it)
You are quite correct there are a few "close (k)nit sparks" on here, and again yes a few of us are arrogant in the fact that we have been doing this a long time and seen most of it and done most of it.
I gather by your post Kenny your a sparks yourself so I'm amazed that you have decried the advice given to Richard.
There were a few I agree perhaps less than helpful post, mine for one, but it looks like that was born out of frustration that Richard would not quite take on board the fact that he was not competent enough to do this work. It can for some be a little, let's say disappointing, when they are confronted with a task that they are not able to carry out, especially when the task does not look that daunting to them, but in reality they are not capable of doing.
I will object to your assumption Kenny that guys/gals on here are not helpful. I have seen thread after thread of guys given their time, for free, to talk people through jobs, problems, exam questions and even life sometimes as a community.
It is as you say an open forum, where information and ideas should be exchanged, but I still believe very much in care of duty. I could not, and never will give out advice on a subject where someone is obviously out of their depth and could easily cause damage or even worse injure themselves or others. Like most on here I would advise they should seek professional guidance. after all it looks quite easy to fly a plane, I wonder how far I get on a forum if I posted I got this Lear juet and and pilot as told me this and that, how do I actually take off!