[EDIT2] (at top to make sure visibility) All good, as explained in one of the posts. I shouldn't expect pressure regulator to work directly at faucet. (Use tee or splitter) Here is video https://youtu.be/gp4aquT19LA
[Just started looking into drip irrigation] I'm using rainbird 25PSI pressure regulator along with pressure guage. (https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Bird-HT07525PSI-Irrigation-Regulator/dp/B0049C5FZA)
Pressure guage measures about 70PSI without regulator (directly at garden faucet), however this doesn't really change even after using pressure regulator.
Am I misunderstanding pressure regulator? or is guauge/regulator broken?
[EDIT] Here is what I'm talking about (in both cases it reads about 60PSI):
Hey there.
Pressure regulators typically only work when there is flow and also back pressure they can work against.
If you try and measure with the gauge like in the picture you will basically end up measuring input pressure as any tiny leakage of water through the regulator will have nowhere to go afterwards and pressure will build up.
If you want to test the regulator, you need to put it in a line with a few sprinkler heads on it so that there is both flow and back pressure and then put your gauge in a tee piece on that line so it can measure the pressure of the water flowing past.
Ah so I misunderstood how to use guage and in general how regulator works. Thanks for mentioning this. Would it work if I use splitter instead of tee ? (I've splitter readily available to test tomorrow)
Think of the pressure gauge like a valve, if the hose is running, turning it up and down increases/decreases the pressure drop across the valve, and by extension, the flow.
If you plug the end of the hose so nothing is flowing, turning up and down the valve does nothing to the pressure in the plugged line
There are more advanced pressure regulators that aren't as dependent on flow, but this is not one of them.
Splitter is fine as long as there is somewhere for the water to go after it exits the regulator. You need that flow for it to work.
Just know that you also need a bit of back pressure so the regulator can actually reach the point of regulation, I mentioned sprinkler heads but this back pressure can be a hose with a nozzle, or just your thumb on the end even, as long as there is a bit of flow 😄
absolutely this, life is all good once I used splitter. I can see pressure guage reading 60-65PSI vs 20-25PSI. Thanks a lot for pointing this out