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Icky-pick or icky-pic is a gelatinous cable compound used in outdoor-rated communications cables, including both twisted-pair copper cabling and fiber-optic cabling.^[1]^[2] "PIC" is the abbreviation for "plastic insulated cable". The cable is filled with an "icky" substance. The filled cable itself, therefore, is called an "icky PIC".

Icky-pick has two primary functions:

Deter animals from biting and damaging the cable due to the smell and taste of the gel
Seal any nick or gash in the outer jacket if they do bite it, preventing water from entering the cable and damaging it by corrosion and freeze expansion

The actual icky-pick compound is a very thick petroleum-based substance e.g. petroleum jelly, and is only rated for outdoor use, frequently direct-buried in the ground. An outdoor cable spliced onto an indoor terminal block is prone to leak the gelatin, hence in many situations the icky-pic cable is spliced outside the building to a short run of normal cable which runs through a protective conduit into the building. The thick gel stains clothing and hands and is very difficult to remove.

When fiber-optic cables are to be spliced, the gel must be removed with solvents and swabs to prevent fouling of the splice. Paint thinner or charcoal starter is a frequently used and commonly available remover and clean-up agent.

References

^ Froehlich, F.E.; Kent, A. (1993). The Froehlich/Kent Encyclopedia of Telecommunications: Volume 7 - Electrical Filters: Fundamentals and System Applications to Federal Communications Commission of the United States. Encyclopedia of Telecommunicat. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-8247-2905-9. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
^ Debiec, Thomas (Jan 1, 2001). "Picking the ick out of outside plant cable". Retrieved 2022-06-12.

[1] Froehlich, F.E.; Kent, A. (1993). The Froehlich/Kent Encyclopedia of Telecommunications: Volume 7 - Electrical Filters: Fundamentals and System Applications to Federal Communications Commission of the United States. Encyclopedia of Telecommunicat. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-8247-2905-9. Retrieved 2022-06-14.

[2] Debiec, Thomas (Jan 1, 2001). "Picking the ick out of outside plant cable". Retrieved 2022-06-12.

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+{{Short description|Gelatinous cable compound}}
-''Icky-pick'' or ''icky-pic'' is a name for a gelatinous substance contained within outdoor-rated communications cables, including both twisted pair copper cabling and fiber optic cabling. Icky-pick has two primary functions:
+'''Icky-pick''' or '''icky-pic''' is a gelatinous [[cable compound]] used in outdoor-rated [[communications cable]]s, including both [[Twisted pair|twisted-pair copper cabling]] and [[Fiber-optic cable|fiber-optic cabling]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Froehlich | first=F.E. | last2=Kent | first2=A. | title=The Froehlich/Kent Encyclopedia of Telecommunications: Volume 7 - Electrical Filters: Fundamentals and System Applications to Federal Communications Commission of the United States | publisher=Taylor & Francis | series=Encyclopedia of Telecommunicat | year=1993 | isbn=978-0-8247-2905-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=25QAw9TdZXUC&pg=PA87 | access-date=2022-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cablinginstall.com/home/article/16466181/picking-the-ick-out-of-outside-plant-cable |title=Picking the ick out of outside plant cable |date=Jan 1, 2001 |first=Thomas |last=Debiec |accessdate=2022-06-12}}</ref> "PIC" is the abbreviation for "plastic insulated cable". The cable is filled with an "icky" substance. The [[filled cable]] itself, therefore, is called an "icky PIC".
+Icky-pick has two primary functions:
-* Prevent water from entering the cable, causing corrosion and damage from freeze expansion
-* Deter animals from biting and damaging the cable due to the taste of the gel
+* Deter animals from biting and damaging the cable due to the smell and taste of the gel
-Icky-pick is a very thick petroleum-based substance with very high flammability, and consequently is only rated for outdoor use, frequently direct-buried in the ground. An outdoor cable spliced onto an indoor terminal block is prone to leak the gelatin which is a fire hazard. The thick gelatin stains clothing and hands and is very difficult to remove. When fiber-optic cables are to be spliced, the gelatin must be removed with solvents and swabs to prevent fouling of the splice.
+* Seal any nick or gash in the outer jacket if they do bite it, preventing water from entering the cable and damaging it by corrosion and freeze expansion
+The actual icky-pick compound is a very thick [[petroleum]]-based substance e.g. [[petroleum jelly]], and is only rated for outdoor use, frequently [[Direct-buried cable|direct-buried]] in the ground. An outdoor cable spliced onto an indoor terminal block is prone to leak the gelatin, hence in many situations the icky-pic cable is spliced outside the building to a short run of normal cable which runs through a protective [[electrical conduit|conduit]] into the building.  The thick gel stains clothing and hands and is very difficult to remove.
-== See also ==
-* [[cable compound]]
-* [[fiber-optic cable]]
-* [[filled cable]]
-* [[twisted-pair]]
+When fiber-optic cables are to be spliced, the gel must be removed with solvents and swabs to prevent fouling of the splice. [[Paint thinner]] or charcoal starter is a frequently used and commonly available remover and clean-up agent.
-== External References ==
-* Picking on Icky-Pick, http://www.nexans.us/US/2007/D2_ReelTime_1206.pdf
+==References==
-{{Uncategorized|date=May 2008}}
+{{reflist}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Icky-Pick}}
+[[Category:Petroleum products]]
+[[Category:Signal cables]]