-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000038725-09-000057.txt : 20090430
<SEC-HEADER>0000038725-09-000057.hdr.sgml : 20090430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090430155857
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000038725-09-000057
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090430
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090430

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRUMBULL R SCOTT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210705

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00362
		FILM NUMBER:		09783673

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
		STREET 2:		400 E SPRING STREET
		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
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210705</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRUMBULL R SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 E SPRING STREET</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>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401 (K)</value>
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                <value>common stock</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>195</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-04-19</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeHolding>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.005</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-01</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>80430</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100430</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.95</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>161230</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>191430</value>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>45.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <derivativeHolding>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>57300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>281730</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>stock units</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.34</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>91194</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <value>option</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19120</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.34</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <value>2019-03-05</value>
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                    <value>common stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19120</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>392044</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares vest at the end of four years subject to the performance of certain goals.  If these goals are not attained, the shares will be forfeited.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Holdings within the Franklin Electric Directed Investment Salary Plan Trust.  The information reported herein is based on a plan statement reporting December 31, 2008 holdings under the Franklin Electric Directed Investment Salary Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Allocation of shares under the Franklin Electric Co., Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust.  The information reported herein was provided by the trustee for holdings as of December 31, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to the Long Term Strategic Incentive Bonus Program, Mr. Trumbull was awarded 195 stock awards which immediately vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The options become exercisable in three equal installments of 1/3 each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The options become exercisable in five equal installments of 1/5 each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The options become exercisable in four equal installments of 1/4 each year, beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Pursuant to terms of the Nonemployee Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan approved by the board of directors on February 11, 2000 and amended and restated on April 28, 2006, Mr. Trumbull elected to receive his 2006 board of directors retainer in Franklin Electric Co., Inc. common stock, issuance of such shares deferred until he retires or otherwise leaves the board of directors (e.g. Stock Units).  On February 26, 2009, Mr. Trumbull was credited with 10.94 Stock Units for dividends that would have been paid on such deferred shares.  At distribution, Mr. Trumbull may elect pursuant to the terms of the Plan to receive his deferred compensation either in shares of Franklin common stock or in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The Amended and Restated Franklin Electric Stock Plan was approved by shareholders on April 24, 2009; therefore, these are the remaining shares from your 2009 Stock Option Grant issued on March 5, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>R. Scott Trumbull</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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