For diy, Rodale institute had excellent designs, explanations details and examples in their text
books. These can be replicated by the type of person who is handy and has access to a
workshop or workspace and a few common tools. These are available used, great for home library.
For homebrew-ability on the net I like Build It Solar and Home Power
Magazine diy sections. Im sure there are many others.
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Projects.htm
https://www.homepower.com/
Home Power Magazine archives on disc are worth every penny and the actual magazines are treasures. One of the best things i ever did was buying years worth of back issues. They have a program where they will double your a subscription to a library of your choice at a discount.
DIY PV is for sadists or those seeking extreme builders pride where excellent quality chinese (canadian solar) modules are around $189 for a 320w module and american made Solarworlds are available for only slightly more! This is a small quantity or single module price. Co-ops can do much better in
pallets.
The symetry and weather proofing of a modern pv panel is hard to beat. Still prety cool project.
Solar thermal collectors can be done DYI in a way that looks good and performs well.
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