are solar panels just a photodiode?A Photodiode converts light into either current or voltage? Right?
yes. Any semiconductor junction will convert light into electrical energy, just shine a light at an LED (connect LED to voltmeter) and you'll see a small voltage produced (if you configure the meter as an ammeter it will develop a very small current). Solar panels are just VERY large surface photodiodes.
Yes, so are camera sensors. Except in cameras they're specially desgined to reduce noise.
