Brass track Rail clamps vs joiners

[natoanjou]

Put together a circular track to test out a couple new locos. (LGB 11000 R1 30º). The track was used so I got rid of the oxidation and track looks good.
I had an unused bag of SplitJaw rail clamps (pic attached) and clamped the tracks completely with them. They absolutely did not carry voltage to adjoining tracks. Only the powered track and 1 adjacent track carried 25 volts.
So I ended off dismantling the entire circle and used new Bachman G-Scale Brass Rail Joiners. They worked perfectly.
I'm new to G-scale so some trial and error is involved but I couldn't figure out this problem. I think some rail clamps lock over joiners but these were from a setup that used locking clamps directly on the rails. I cleaned of the bottom side brass on each side where the clamp connects.
It's a lot easier to use joiners but certain connections need clamps.
Any help clearing up this mystery would be much appreciated.

 

[korm kormsen]

your split jaw label says : "Plastic/Brass" - they are made to interrupt the electric flow.
for electric connection you would need clamps, where both sides are from brass.

 

[Monty]

image from Split Jaw web site.

 

[FatherMcD]

Your split-jaw joiners are insulating joiners. They are not supposed to carry power. These are the conducting type:Note how both sides are brass. On yours, the dark material is a plastic insulator. The Bachmann joiners are designed to screw to the rails with screws through the round and elongated holes into tapped holes in the rail web. I have several that I use this way and they work very well at holding alignment and conducting power.

 

[dunnyrail]

Learning experience for you Nat. Those clamps may come in handy in the future if you need isolating sections. In the meantime Massoth or even Piko all brass not isolating are the way to go.