FORT WAYNE, IN--(Marketwired - Mar 29, 2017) - Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announces that its proven SubDrive Connect product family of variable frequency drives now offers the addition of surface pump functionality for residential, commercial, small municipal, and irrigation applications. This is a standard product upgrade that provides basic and advanced setup via either DIP switches or the FE Connect mobile app to achieve constant water pressure from compatible 230 V three-phase surface pumps with an overload current rating from 2.0 A to 17.8 A -- including the Franklin Electric VR Series, MH Series, BT4 Series, and DDS Series pumps. Basic DIP switch settings allow for easy setup of overload current, system response, and a lower minimum frequency setting, whereas advanced settings using FE Connect allow for a customized system response and fine tuning of motor overload current, frequency range, and pump priming delay. In addition to typical applications, SubDrive Connect is easily programmable and an ideal solution for duplex pumping applications with submersible pumps, surface pumps, or a mixture of the two.

SubDrive Connect variable frequency drives continue to include the same features and functionality with surface pumps as they do with submersible pumps. The standard Enhanced Features package includes an analog pressure transducer with user selectable set point, moisture (or wet floor) sensor, and system run and fault relays. Utilizing the innovative FE Connect, contractors also benefit from the advantages of drawdown, an auxiliary control input, and the built-in duplex alternator. The end result is a drive platform that optimizes system performance, delivers more precise pressure and system diagnostics on screen, simplifies lead-lag installation, and provides contractor peace of mind.

The SubDrive Connect family features a NEMA 3R (Type 3) enclosure rated for both indoor and outdoor use, providing a degree of protection against falling rain or sleet. FE Connect is a convenient way to set up and configure the drive and, once configured, it allows real-time monitoring of key system data, adjustment of advanced features and settings to optimize the system to the specific application, and access to fault history -- up to 500 detailed entries that can be emailed for enhanced troubleshooting capability.

Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and fuel. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company's financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company's business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company's accounting policies, future trends, and other risks which are detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.