What is the term used to describe the spreading apart of stranded wire during installation?

The term "splay" is used to describe the spreading apart of stranded wire during installation. This phenomenon occurs when the individual conductors that make up a stranded wire begin to separate or fan out. Splaying is often encountered during the process of terminating or connecting stranded wire to terminals or connectors, as the wires need to be properly arranged to ensure a secure and reliable connection. Proper splaying allows for better electrical connectivity and can help avoid issues such as shorts or poor connections that may arise when the wires are not adequately spaced or positioned.

Stranding refers to the construction method where multiple small wires are twisted together to form a larger conductor, but it does not pertain to the act of spreading the wires apart during installation. Fraying relates to the deterioration of wire strands, often leading to the exposure of the conductive material but is not synonymous with the spreading apart of the wires. Stretching refers to the elongation of the wire due to tension and does not specifically describe the process of spreading apart the individual strands.