A charging technique is a specific cycle that is optimized for a specific battery technology. A correct charging cycle contributes to a longer lifespan and a continued good performance of the battery. Using an incorrect charging cycle can damage the cell and your battery can become defective.
Charging Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries
Li-ion batteries are charged by a battery charger that can connect to the printed circuit board in the battery. This printed circuit board checks the voltage and temperature to prevent damage to the battery and the cells. A lithium-ion battery has two different versions, namely as a fast charger or a 'slow' charger. The fast charger is equipped with active cooling to prevent damage to the cells. A charger without active cooling (fans) will have a lower capacity. This leads to a longer charging time. You can check whether your charger is suitable for Li-ion by looking at the specifications of the charger, which should state Li-ion or Lithium-ion.
Charging Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-CD) & Ni-MH Batteries
Nickel-cadmium batteries can be quickly charged by the right batteries. In practice, battery chargers for Ni-MH often also have a Ni-CD function. The charger automatically recognizes the battery technology and therefore selects the optimal setting. You can check whether your charger is suitable for Ni-MH or Ni-CD by looking at the specifications of the charger, which should state Ni-MH or Ni-CD.
