Interstate DCM0100 12V 110 Ah SLA/AGM Deep Cycle Battery

Interstate DCM0100 battery is a large and heavy, but strong and sturdy Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery, intended for Deep Cycle Mobility (DCM) applications requiring ~100Ah (0100) batteries.

Interstate DCM0100 battery is a Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA), spill-proof maintenance-free battery, and can be mounted in virtually any position, except upside-down. However, if possible, it and similar batteries should be positioned in an upright position.

Published: May 5, 2021.

Interstate DCM0100 Battery Features and Specifications

The nominal voltage of the Interstate DCM0100 battery is 12V and the nominal 20h capacity is 110Ah. It weighs 67.5 pounds (~30.6 kg) and features physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 12.99 x 6.81 x 8.35 inches (330 x 173 x 212 mm).

Interstate DCM0100 battery comes with a pair of carrying handles, but due to its weight, it should be carried only by two adults to shorter distances.

According to the Interstate's Official Web page, the Interstate DCM0100 battery belongs to the BCI Group 29 battery size, but personally, it should be considered as a BCI Group 31 battery.

Anyway, the differences between these groups are very small:

- Group 29NF: 13 x 5.5 x 8.9375 inches (330 x 140 x 227 mm),

- Group 29H: 13.125 x 6.75 x 9.125 inches (334 x 171 x 232 mm),

- Group 31: 13 x 6.8125 x 9.4375 inches (330 x 173 x 240 mm).

For short - the Interstate DCM0100 battery is a BCI Group 31 battery, comparable with the best and most popular deep cycle and general-purpose Group 31 batteries.

As a sealed AGM deep cycle battery, the Interstate DCM0100 battery is not suitable for applications that require strong bursts of energy, like starting/cranking and similar applications.

It should be used in a deep cycle and standby applications, including medical and security systems, light industrial applications, solar, backup and other off-the-grid applications, as RV house battery, as trolling motor battery, as sump pump backup battery, wheelchair and other mobility applications, etc.

Battery terminals are in the form of female threaded inserts, with bolts being included.

When the battery is being used in standby/float applications, its charging voltage should be 13.5-13.8 volts (@77°F, 25°C), and when used in cycle applications, its charging voltage should be 14.5-14.9 volts (@77°F, 25°C).

Interstate DCM0100 battery withstands deep discharges reasonably well. When the battery is being discharged down to 100% DoD, one may expect the battery to endure some 300 charging/discharging cycles. Also, it can withstand ~700 cycles down to 50% DoD and ~1500 cycles down to 30% DoD.

In order to prolong the battery life, no AGM battery should be cycled down to 100% DoD.

Interstate DCM0100 Battery Discharge Charts

Constant current and constant power discharge charts show how much current and power a new, fully charged battery can provide when the battery is being discharged at 77°F (25°C).

Note: Interstate DCM0100 battery first originated as a 12V 100Ah battery and now it is offered/advertised as a DCM0100 12V 110Ah battery. These discharge charts are for an "older" 12V 100Ah battery which had an actual 20h capacity of 104Ah, very close to the nominal capacity of the newer 12V 110Ah model. Personally, the differences between these two models are less than (or at least very close to) the variations between manufacturing batches...

Constant Current Discharge Chart:

Constant Power Discharge Chart:

Again, in order to prolong the battery's lifetime, don't discharge it more than 50% DoD and if You really must, don't discharge it below 10.5 volts, especially when discharging it for more than 1h - if You regularly discharge any lead-acid battery for 5 or more hours, keeping the battery's end voltage above 11.1 volts can significantly prolong its operating life.

Interstate DCM0100 Battery as an Inverter Battery

If the Interstate DCM0100 battery is used to power, for example, a 500W power inverter with 85% efficiency, that means that the battery must provide ~590 watts.

If we check the constant power discharge chart, we see that the new fully charged Interstate DCM0100 battery is able to provide ~600 watts for one hour, down to 10.5 volts (1.75 volts per cell), at 77°F (25°C).

So, if we want to power such power inverter, the Interstate DCM0100 battery can do it for one hour with some energy/charge left.

This is just an example - such calculations show the user approximate values of expected runtime depending on the battery load, not just when the battery is being used as an inverter battery, but also when it is used as a trolling battery, sump pump battery, solar battery, wheelchair battery, etc.

How to Charge Interstate DCM0100 Battery

Interstate DCM0100 battery is an AGM 12V 110Ah battery, and as such should be recharged using an intelligent AGM battery charger with the maximum charging current of 10-15 Amps, with a dedicated AGM battery charging mode and temperature compensation.

Such battery chargers analyze the battery first and only then charge it with a charging adjusted to the battery condition.

If the battery is over-discharged, such battery charger may attempt to recover the battery and if required, it may even start the desulphation process.

And when the battery is fully charged, intelligent AGM battery chargers switch into the maintenance mode in order to keep the battery fully charged over a longer period of time.

Long Story Short: Interstate DCM0100 battery is a very popular 12V 110Ah battery - it is well designed and built, offering good performances for its price.

If You are looking for a new 12V 100Ah class battery, consider this one - it cycles reasonably well, it can provide plenty of power over a longer period of time, it can accept charge relatively quickly, etc.

Also, it comes with a 1-year limited warranty (down to 80% of nominal capacity).

For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Interstate DCM0100 12V 110 Ah SLA/AGM Deep Cycle Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).