BLE113-A-V1 - Bluetooth 4.0 BLE Module, 2V-3.6V | Silicon Labs
MPN: BLE113-A-V1 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $13.5 | $13.50 |
| 10 | $12.15 | $121.50 |
| 100 | $10.8 | $1,080.00 |
| 500 | $9.45 | $4,725.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.65 | $8,650.00 |
BLE113-A-V1 Overview
A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module is a complete short-range wireless subsystem that integrates the 2.4 GHz radio transceiver, a microcontroller, the BLE software stack, and an antenna into a single certified unit. Within the connectivity hierarchy (module -> BLE radio -> 2.4 GHz transceiver -> RF IC -> semiconductor), modules eliminate the RF design, regulatory certification, and stack porting work otherwise required of a discrete chip design.
Key features of the BLE113 include a fully integrated Bluetooth radio, microcontroller, and GATT-based software stack; the ability to host the end-user application on-module via the BGSCRIPT scripting language or BLE API, so no external MCU is needed in size- or price-constrained devices; serial interfaces including UART, SPI, PWM, and ISP for system integration; and very low power consumption for battery-powered designs (active-mode current is roughly 6 mA per Silicon Labs community measurements on comparable firmware).
Architecturally, the module is built around the Texas Instruments CC2541 BLE system-on-chip running the Bluegiga iWRAP-based Bluetooth Smart stack. The GATT profile server and client, security manager, and OTA-capable firmware structure are all resident on-module, exposing a simple UART API or BGSCRIPT environment to the host.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensors, fitness and health accessories, smart tags and beacons, and industrial wireless sensor nodes - anywhere a certified Bluetooth Smart link must be added without RF expertise. The integrated chip antenna keeps the BOM minimal and removes antenna tuning from the design cycle.
A key design consideration: the BLE113-A-V1 variant contains only 128 kB of flash. If you plan over-the-air firmware updates or a large BGSCRIPT application, the pin-compatible BLE113-A-M256K with 256 kB flash is the better choice within the same footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, practical design notes, and migration guidance from Silicon Labs application note AN1036 - information not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for BLE113-A-V1 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with BLE113-A-V1 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Serial Interfaces, Mounting Type, Flash Memory, RoHS Status, Standard.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
BLE113-A-M256K
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →BLE112-A-V1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$16.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →BLE121LR-A-M256K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BLE113-A-V1 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Standard | Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Smart / BLE) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz ISM |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Receive Sensitivity | -93 dBm |
| Air Data Rate | 2 Mbps (1 Mbps BLE) |
| Antenna Type | Integrated chip antenna |
| Utilized IC / Part | TI CC2541 |
| Serial Interfaces | UART, SPI, ISP, PWM |
| Flash Memory | 128 kB |
| On-Module Application Hosting | Yes (BGSCRIPT / BLE API, no external MCU required) |
| Active Mode Current | Approx. 6 mA (typical, per Silicon Labs community measurements) |
| Modulation | GFSK |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (castellated pads) |
| Package | 28-pad module, QFP28 footprint class |
| RF Family | Bluetooth |
BLE113-A-V1 Interfaces & Connectors
BLE113-A-V1 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for BLE113-A-V1 as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
BLE113-A-V1 is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensors, Fitness and Health Accessories, iBeacon / Eddystone Beacons, Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks, Smart Home and Connected Devices, Medical and Diagnostic Accessories.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensors
The BLE113-A-V1 was explicitly designed by Bluegiga for small, low-power sensors: it integrates the 2.4 GHz BLE radio, CC2541-based MCU, GATT software stack, and chip antenna into one 2.0-3.6 V module drawing roughly 6 mA in active mode. A CR2032 coin cell powers the entire node without a boost converter, and the on-module BGSCRIPT engine can read I2C/SPI sensors and manage advertising and connection intervals directly, eliminating an external MCU and its sleep-state leakage. Placed on a sensor PCB with a 100 nF decoupling capacitor at the supply pad, the module handles pairing, bonding, and GATT server duties autonomously. The -93 dBm sensitivity provides adequate link margin for room-scale sensor deployments; for whole-building coverage, step up to the long-range BLE121LR in the same footprint.
Recommended
Fitness and Health Accessories
Wearable fitness bands, heart-rate straps, and health monitors benefit from the BLE113-A-V1's fully integrated Bluetooth Smart solution: the radio, stack, GATT profiles, and antenna are pre-certified, which removes the costliest stages of a wearable product's certification schedule. The 2.0-3.6 V supply accepts a Li coin cell or single-cell Li-Po through an LDO, and approximately 6 mA active current keeps duty-cycled sensor sampling well within battery budgets. The module hosts the application logic itself - reading PWM or UART sensor streams in BGSCRIPT - while the standard GATT Battery and Heart Rate profiles connect transparently to iOS and Android devices. The -93 dBm sensitivity maintains links through body-worn antenna detuning, a common failure mode for wearables using discrete radios.
Recommended
iBeacon / Eddystone Beacons
Beacon deployment is one of the simplest BLE113-A-V1 use cases: the module only needs to advertise UUID packets, which BGSCRIPT handles in a few lines while spending nearly all its life in sleep. From a 2.0-3.6 V supply with roughly 6 mA active current confined to short advertising bursts, a CR2032 coin cell yields multi-month to multi-year service depending on advertising interval. The integrated chip antenna gives omnidirectional coverage without an external antenna, and the 28-pad castellated package permits low-cost single-side assembly. Configurable advertising interval and TX power via the Bluegiga stack let installers tune coverage versus battery life per venue. Because the footprint is shared with the BLE121LR long-range variant, high-bay or outdoor beacon SKUs can reuse the identical PCB.
Recommended
Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks
In factory and building-automation settings, the BLE113-A-V1 bridges legacy serial equipment to modern BLE gateways: its UART interface exposes the Bluegiga BLE API, letting a PLC or host MCU send and receive GATT data without touching the RF stack. The 2.0-3.6 V supply integrates with standard 3.3 V industrial rails through an LDO, and SPI and PWM interfaces support local actuator control. With -93 dBm sensitivity and the integrated chip antenna, the module sustains links across machinery bays where 2.4 GHz interference exists, and BLE connection intervals can be stretched to cut average current below the milliwatt level for battery-powered nodes. Note that Silicon Labs recommends the BGM113 family for new industrial designs due to its roughly 3 mA active current - see migration note AN1036.
Recommended
Smart Home and Connected Devices
Smart locks, thermostats, and lighting accessories use the BLE113-A-V1 because it consolidates BLE connectivity, the GATT security manager, and application hosting in a single certified part. The CC2541-based stack handles pairing, bonding, and encryption on-module, while BGSCRIPT or the UART BLE API connects door-latch servos, PWM dimmers, or SPI sensors directly to the module - no external MCU needed in cost-optimized SKUs. The 2.0-3.6 V input suits battery-backed products, and approximately 6 mA active current keeps standby overhead low. The pre-certified integrated antenna simplifies enclosure design inside plastic housings. For products that will receive feature updates over the air in the field, use the pin-identical BLE113-A-M256K variant, whose 256 kB flash accommodates OTA images.
Recommended
Medical and Diagnostic Accessories
Glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and thermometer dongles adopt the BLE113-A-V1 for its standardized GATT health profiles and host-free operation: the module implements the Bluetooth SIG health-device profiles in its integrated stack, so measurement data flows straight to phone apps without custom profile development. The 2.0-3.6 V single-supply operation allows safe battery designs with no exposed higher voltages, and the -93 dBm sensitivity keeps data intact during patient-side usage. UART connectivity lets a measurement MCU push readings at low duty cycles, while BGSCRIPT can alternatively sample SPI/I2C sensors directly. Average current stays near sleep levels between measurement events, extending cell life in disposable or long-shelf-life medical accessories.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for BLE113-A-V1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | BLE113-A-M256K | BLE112-A-V1 | BLE121LR-A-M256K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pad castellated module, integrated chip antenna | 28-pad castellated module - same | 28-pad castellated module - same | 28-pad castellated module - same |
| Brand | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) |
| Bluetooth Standard | Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart/BLE) | Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart/BLE) | Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart/BLE) | Bluetooth Smart, long-range mode |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Antenna | Integrated chip antenna | Integrated chip antenna | Integrated chip antenna | Integrated chip antenna |
Key Differentiators
- Hosts application on-module - no external MCU required (vs BLE112-A-V1)
- Fully integrated certified solution (vs BGM113A256V2R)
- Trade-off: 128 kB flash limits OTA (vs BLE113-A-M256K)
Design Notes
Supply the BLE113-A-V1 from a clean 2.0-3.6 V rail. Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor directly at the module supply pad and a 10 uF bulk capacitor nearby; RF transmitters create microsecond-scale current spikes that a distant regulator cannot respond to. Never connect 5 V logic or USB VBUS directly - use an LDO such as a 3.3 V regulator. When powering from a CR2032 coin cell, verify the cell's pulse-current capability against the roughly 6 mA active draw; some coin cells sag below the 2.0 V minimum during TX bursts, causing brown-out resets.
Although the chip antenna is integrated, it still requires layout cooperation: per the Bluegiga/Silicon Labs datasheet keep-out requirements, keep all copper (traces, pours, vias) and components out of the antenna clearance zone above and around the antenna end of the module. Do not route traces under the antenna area, and avoid placing the module near metal enclosures or ground planes extending under the antenna. Deviating from the keep-out can shift the matching by several dB and cut range dramatically. Follow the datasheet reference layout for the castellated pad land pattern.
Flash budget is the most common BLE113-A-V1 pitfall: 128 kB must hold the Bluetooth stack plus your BGSCRIPT application. Developers frequently run out of space when adding OTA update support late in the project. Per Silicon Labs community guidance, if you plan OTA or a large application, select the pin-identical BLE113-A-M256K (256 kB) from the start - it is a true drop-in on the same PCB. Also note Silicon Labs AN1036: the BGM113 successor is NOT pin-compatible, so a future migration requires a PCB redesign, not a solder-down swap.
Compliance Information
Module is RoHS compliant as a pre-certified Bluetooth module per Silicon Labs product documentation; REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in the provided data.
