What does the term 'splay' refer to in electrical wiring installation?

The term 'splay' in electrical wiring installation refers specifically to the spreading apart of stranded wire. Stranded wire is composed of many small wires twisted together, and this construction allows for flexibility and ease of handling. When the wire is splayed, it can make connections and terminations easier, ensuring better contact surfaces for electrical connections. This is particularly important in ensuring continuity and reducing resistance at connection points.

The other options describe different phenomena related to electrical wiring but do not accurately capture the meaning of 'splay'. For example, tension in the wire refers to the stress exerted on a wire when pulled, which is not related to how the strands are arranged. Contraction of wire pertains to thermal effects where wire can shrink when cooled, while insulation wear deals with the degradation of protective coating over time, which does not pertain to the structural arrangement of the wire itself. Thus, the definition of splay is specifically tied to the arrangement of stranded conductors.