The current models side by side
| 755PSMA5L | 755PSMA5 | 755LPSMA4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 230-volt mains | 230-volt mains | Battery only |
| Battery | Built-in 3-volt lithium backup, rated for 10 years | 9-volt alkaline backup, rated for 1 year | 10-year 3-volt lithium |
| Interconnection | Wired, up to 40 alarms | Wired, up to 40 alarms | Built-in wireless, up to 40 alarms, 50 m line of sight |
| Standard listed | AS 3786 | AS 3786 | AS 3786:2014 |
| Who fits it | A licensed electrician | A licensed electrician | No mains wiring involved |
Replacing a discontinued 755RLPSMA4
The 755RLPSMA4 was a 240-volt alarm with a rechargeable lithium backup. Schneider lists it as discontinued on 24 August 2026 and names the 755PSMA5L as its replacement: a 230-volt photoelectric alarm with a built-in lithium backup rated for 10 years.
The old one is wired in, so the swap is a job for a licensed electrician. It's also the moment to check the rest of the house: whether every alarm is photoelectric, inside its 10 years, and linked to the others. In Queensland, a hardwired alarm has to be replaced with another hardwired one anyway.
How loud, and how many
Schneider's datasheets put the 755PSMA5 and 755PSMA5L at 85 dB, and say each can be wire interconnected with up to 40 alarms. The battery-only 755LPSMA4 has its own wireless link for up to 40 alarms, plus a test and hush button.
We couldn't confirm whether a newer Clipsal wireless model replaces the 755LPSMA4, so check current stock before you plan a home around it.
Before you buy a Clipsal alarm
- Match the power type to what's there now. If it's hardwired, the replacement should be too.
- Choose the lithium backup (755PSMA5L) over the alkaline one (755PSMA5) if you'd rather not change a backup battery every year.
- Check the model number against Schneider's current list, because older models do get discontinued.
- Look for AS 3786 on the label.
What you can do, and what's licensed work
You can
- Put up battery-only 755LPSMA4 alarms, which need no mains wiring.
- Use the test and hush button on the 755LPSMA4, and the test button on the others.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Installing or replacing a 230-volt 755PSMA5L or 755PSMA5.
- Running interconnect wiring between mains alarms.
- Taking out a discontinued 755RLPSMA4 and wiring in its replacement.
Our pick
For a home with hardwired alarms, the 755PSMA5L is the one we'd ask the electrician about: photoelectric, wired, and a lithium backup rated for 10 years, so there's no yearly backup battery to buy. Have every alarm in the house swapped in the same visit, so they're the same age and all linked.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.