<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000038725-11-000117.txt : 20111128
<SEC-HEADER>0000038725-11-000117.hdr.sgml : 20111128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20111128163635
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000038725-11-000117
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20111104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20111128
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20111128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SENGSTACK GREGG C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189242

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00362
		FILM NUMBER:		111228745

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC
		STREET 2:		400 EAST SPRING ST
		CITY:			BLUFFTON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46714

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000038725
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621]
		IRS NUMBER:				350827455
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0725

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 E SPRING ST
		CITY:			BLUFFTON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46714
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2608242900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 E SPRING STREET
		CITY:			BLUFFTON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46714
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2011-11-14</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000038725</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fele</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189242</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SENGSTACK GREGG C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 EAST SPRING ST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLUFFTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46714</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15401</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>172752</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ammended filing reflects corrected tax withholding obligation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes:
4000 restricted shares that vest three years from the 4/28/2009 grant date; 4000 restricted shares that vest four years from the 2/22/2010 grant date, 3377 restricted shares that vest four years from the 2/3/2011 grant date and 161,375 shares owned outright.

The subsequent filing performed on 11/18/2001 would have shown 172,652 in box 5 for beneficial ownership.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregg C. Sengstack</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-11-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
