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Icky-pick

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 173.51.10.223 (talk) at 18:04, 20 July 2013 (additional detail and clarification (by someone who has done 'way too many splices)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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.

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
  • Seals any nick in the outer jacket if they do bite it
  • Prevent water from entering the cable, causing corrosion and damage from freeze expansion

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, hence in many situations the icky-pic cable is spliced (usually outside the building) to a short run of normal cable which is run iside the building and terminated. 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.

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