<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000038725-16-000234.txt : 20160217
<SEC-HEADER>0000038725-16-000234.hdr.sgml : 20160217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160217083936
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000038725-16-000234
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160217

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:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9255 COVERDALE ROAD
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2608242900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9255 COVERDALE ROAD
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46809

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kenney Donald P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001608971

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00362
		FILM NUMBER:		161431664

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
		STREET 2:		9255 COVERDALE RD
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46809
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_145571636401536.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001608971</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kenney Donald P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO. INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9255 COVERDALE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WAYNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46809</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; President Energy Systems</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20789</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>27.81</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18789</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This exercise of stock options and corresponding sale of shares was pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan entered into by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,693 restricted stock units that vest 4 years after the 2/26/2015 grant date, 3,716 restricted stock units that vest 4 years after the 3/4/2014 grant date, 4,796 restricted stock units that vest 4 years after the 3/6/2013 grant date, 5,588 restricted shares that vest 4 years after the 5/4/2012 grant date and 2,996 shares held outright.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The options became exercisable in four equal installments of 1/4 each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald P. Kenney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
