Making your own homemade solar panels can save a good deal of money compared to buying a manufactured system. DIY solar panel instructions can be found online or in kits, though kits are more expensive. The solar panels themselves are the most costly component of any panel. Used or discounted solar panels can sometimes be found on sites like eBay or Craigslist to cut costs further. Factory auctions of older solar power systems also offer lower prices than new cutting-edge systems.