BLE113-A-V1C - Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Module, 2V-3.6V | Silicon Labs
MPN: BLE113-A-V1C ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $13.38 | $13.38 |
| 10 | $12.71 | $127.10 |
| 100 | $11.38 | $1,138.00 |
| 500 | $10.71 | $5,355.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.04 | $10,040.00 |
BLE113-A-V1C Overview
A Bluetooth Smart module is a complete wireless subsystem that integrates the 2.4GHz Bluetooth radio, a microcontroller, the BLE software stack, and GATT-based profiles into a single certified unit. Within the system hierarchy, it sits between a discrete BLE chipset design (radio IC plus external host MCU plus software) and a full system-on-chip; modules such as the BLE113 fall into the broader categories of RF module, transceiver module, and wireless connectivity IC.
Key features include full integration of radio, MCU (8051-based, running the Bluegiga Bluetooth Smart stack), and antenna, which removes RF layout effort and regulatory certification burden. Supply operation from 2V to 3.6V allows direct powering from a 3V coin cell. The module can host end-user applications via BGScript or the BGAPI serial protocol, meaning many designs need no external microcontroller at all - a significant saving in size, BOM cost, and power.
Architecturally, the BLE113 combines a Bluetooth radio with an integrated MCU executing the Bluetooth low energy protocol stack and GATT profiles. The V1C variant carries the standard flash configuration of the BLE113 family (128kB flash; the A-M256K variant offers 256kB for OTA updates and larger BGScript applications).
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, proximity and iBeacon-style beacons, wearable accessories, smart-home devices, and small medical/health peripherals where compact size and low average current dominate.
Design consideration: because the V1C uses an internal chip antenna, keep clearance around the antenna area per the Bluegiga layout guidelines; the A-V1 variant (external antenna connection) is the choice when metal or enclosure constraints demand an external antenna.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for BLE113-A-V1C — 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-V1C (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Flash Memory, Frequency Band, Mounting Type, Supply Voltage Range, Serial Interfaces.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
BLE113-A-M256K
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →BLE113-A-V1
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →BLE121LR-A-M256K
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BLE113-A-V1C Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Wireless Standard | Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz (802.15.1) |
| Data Rate | 2 Mbps |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2 V to 3.6 V |
| Device Class | Class 2 |
| Antenna Type | Integrated chip antenna |
| Package / Pins | Module, 36-pin SMD |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Integrated Radio | Yes (Bluetooth radio, MCU, and stack on module) |
| Host Requirement | None - can host end-user application (BGScript/BGAPI) |
| GATT Profiles | Integrated GATT-based profiles |
| Target Applications | Small and low-power sensors and accessories |
| Flash Memory | 128 kB (per Silicon Labs community; M256K variant = 256 kB) |
| RF Power Class | Class 2 Bluetooth Smart |
BLE113-A-V1C Interfaces & Connectors
BLE113-A-V1C exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless, Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy) |
| Power Input | 2 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 V to 3.6 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for BLE113-A-V1C as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
BLE113-A-V1C is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, iBeacon and Eddystone Proximity Beacons, Wearable Accessories, Smart Home Devices, Medical and Health Monitoring Peripherals, Industrial Sensor Retrofits and Asset Tags.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The BLE113-A-V1C fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its 2V-3.6V supply range allows direct powering from a CR2032 coin cell or two alkaline cells without a regulator, and its Bluetooth v4.0 low energy radio duty-cycles advertising and connection events to keep average current in the microamp region. Because the module hosts the end-user application in BGScript, sensor-reading and threshold logic can run directly on the integrated MCU, eliminating a second microcontroller and its sleep-mode current. In a typical temperature-humidity node, the sensor connects via I2C/SPI to the module pads, advertising every 1-2 seconds; radio-active periods draw roughly 6mA per Silicon Labs community measurements, while sleep current dominates the energy budget. This makes multi-year battery life achievable in compact enclosures where a discrete radio-plus-MCU design would be larger and less power-efficient.
Recommended
iBeacon and Eddystone Proximity Beacons
Proximity beacons are one of the most natural fits for the BLE113-A-V1C: the module needs only a coin cell, a 36-pad PCB, and firmware that configures advertising data, since the entire BLE stack and GATT profiles are already integrated. The 2V-3.6V supply range supports direct coin-cell operation, and Class 2 output with the integrated chip antenna provides room-level coverage without an external antenna or RF matching network. Advertising-only operation minimizes radio-active time (about 6mA during TX bursts), so with a 1000ms advertising interval a beacon runs for a year or more on a CR2032. For fleets requiring over-the-air configuration updates, choose the pin-compatible BLE113-A-M256K variant, whose 256kB flash accommodates OTA update images - a decisive factor in deployed beacon populations.
Recommended
Wearable Accessories
The BLE113-A-V1C suits wearable accessories - fitness bands, medical patches, key fobs, and smart tags - because it combines a tiny 36-pad SMD module footprint with the integrated chip antenna that removes RF layout constraints in curved, metal-adjacent, or densely packed enclosures. The 2V-3.6V supply accepts a single lithium coin cell directly, and Bluetooth v4.0 low energy keeps radio-on time short so the wearable battery lasts between charges. The module hosting end-user applications in BGScript means gesture or button logic and pairing behavior run on-module without an external MCU, saving board area critical to wearables. When metal housing or body proximity degrades the internal antenna, the same-footprint BLE113-A-V1 approach with an external antenna connection should be evaluated during enclosure design.
Recommended
Smart Home Devices
In smart-home products - door/window sensors, smart locks, lighting controls, and remote controls - the BLE113-A-V1C provides a fully certified Bluetooth Smart link without the developer needing RF design or regulatory test expertise, since radio, stack, GATT profiles, and antenna are integrated. Its 2V-3.6V supply works with 2xAAA battery packs common in retrofit sensors, and BGScript application hosting keeps the bill of materials to module, sensor, battery holder, and few passives. Connection intervals in BLE allow mains-free devices to sleep at microamp levels between events; active radio bursts draw roughly 6mA. For products that must also bridge to IP networks, pair the module with a Wi-Fi or Ethernet host MCU gateway, using BGAPI over UART so the BLE113 acts as a transparent network co-processor.
Recommended
Medical and Health Monitoring Peripherals
Health peripherals such as pulse oximeters, thermometers, glucose meters, and activity patches benefit from the BLE113-A-V1C because Bluetooth Smart with integrated GATT-based profiles aligns directly with health-data exchange patterns, and the fully integrated, pre-certified radio shortens regulatory and compliance effort for the wireless subsystem. The 2V-3.6V input accepts single-cell medical coin cells, and low duty-cycled operation (approximately 6mA radio-active current) supports continuous-monitoring battery targets. On-module BGScript can implement measurement buffering and secure pairing without an external MCU, reducing component count in small disposable or patch form factors. For designs requiring longer wireless range through clothing or room walls, the same-footprint BLE121LR-A-M256K long-range variant is the recommended upgrade path.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Retrofits and Asset Tags
The BLE113-A-V1C serves industrial retrofits - vibration/temperature tags on motors, condition-monitoring pucks, and tool-tracking tags - where running wiring is impractical and battery-powered BLE reporting is preferred. The module's integrated stack removes protocol development risk, its 2V-3.6V range allows lithium primary cells, and duty-cycled BLE advertising achieves years of service from a single cell in 30-second reporting intervals. BGScript on the 36-pad module can read I2C/SPI sensors directly, keeping the retrofit BOM to module, sensor, battery, and antenna-free chip antenna. In metallic industrial enclosures the internal chip antenna can be detuned; in those cases plan for the external-antenna variant of the BLE11x family or add a plastic RF window per Bluegiga layout guidance. Fleet firmware updates favor the A-M256K flash variant.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for BLE113-A-V1C — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | BLE113-A-M256K | BLE113-A-V1 | BLE121LR-A-M256K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | BLE113 module, 36-pin SMD, integrated chip antenna | BLE113 module, 36-pin SMD - same footprint | BLE113 module, 36-pin SMD - same footprint | BLE11x module, 36-pin SMD - same footprint family |
| Brand | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) | Silicon Labs (Bluegiga) |
| Bluetooth Standard | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy (Smart) | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy (Smart) | Bluetooth v4.0 Low Energy (Smart) | Bluetooth Smart Long Range |
| Supply Voltage | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V |
| Data Rate | 2 Mbps | 2 Mbps | 2 Mbps | 2 Mbps |
| Flash Memory | 128 kB | 256 kB | 128 kB | 256 kB |
| Device Class | Class 2 | Class 2 | Class 2 | Long Range (extended link budget) |
| OTA Update Feasibility | Limited by 128 kB flash | Yes - 256 kB flash supports OTA images | Limited by 128 kB flash | Yes - 256 kB flash supports OTA images |
Key Differentiators
- Hosts application code on-module (vs BGM113A256V2R)
- Lower BOM cost via integration (vs BLE113-A-M256K)
- Integrated chip antenna - no RF layout (vs BLE121LR-A-M256K)
Design Notes
The BLE113-A-V1C uses an integrated chip antenna, so RF performance depends on layout: keep the antenna end of the module clear of ground pour, traces, and metal per the Bluegiga BLE113 hardware layout guidelines, and place the module at the board edge with the antenna overhanging or over a keep-out area. Do not route high-speed or switching signals under the antenna region. Copy the pad footprint directly from the official Bluegiga datasheet rather than redrawing it - pad geometry and paste openings affect both soldering and RF grounding of the module's ground pads.
Power the module from a 2V-3.6V rail sized for radio TX burst currents: Silicon Labs community measurements indicate roughly 6mA during radio-active periods, with fast load transients at the start of each advertising or connection event. Place at least 10uF of bulk capacitance plus a 100nF ceramic directly at the module supply pad. If using a CR2032 coin cell, account for its elevated internal impedance at end of life - a reservoir capacitor (e.g., 47uF-100uF) near the module prevents brown-out resets during TX bursts when the cell is nearly depleted.
Three frequent pitfalls: (1) Assuming BGM113 is a drop-in - per Silicon Labs AN1036 migration guide, BGM113 requires hardware and software changes, so only stay within the BLE113/BLE11x family for true footprint-compatible substitution. (2) Underestimating flash needs - 128kB (A-V1/A-V1C) cannot hold OTA update images; choose BLE113-A-M256K if field firmware updates are planned. (3) Ignoring PCN activity - Silicon Labs PCN 2112141153 replaced internal inductors across BLE112/BLE113/WT32i modules; review the PCN and re-run regulatory spot checks for safety-critical or medical deployments.
Compliance Information
Compliance details were not present in the provided web data; consult the Silicon Labs product page and datasheet for RoHS/REACH statements.
