The drawing above is from the datasheet for a Bourns inductor that I am using. One lead being shorter than the other is a surprise since the inductor is not magnetically biased. I don't remember seeing a phase indicator on an un-biased inductor before. It occurred to me that perhaps paying attention to winding direction might be useful when considering crosstalk between closely spaced inductors.

Any thoughts practical application of the phase indicator?

 

hi Dick,
One reason is if you are using two in series or parallel, equivalent to Start and End of windings.
Eric

EDIT:
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/inductor/series-inductors.html

 

Maybe simply because it is easier to first stick one leg in and then the other, than to try both at once?

 

Not all in that series have the longer leg?
Max.

 

When placed in a PCB, the leads get clipped to equal length before wave soldering.

 

we used to produce a product that used inductors like the one you show. 2 were mounted facing each other (top to top) across a gap where a coin rolled past. One coil transmitted across the gap to the other coil. If someone wasn't paying attention and wired the transmit coil backwards the circuit wouldn't work.