[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):
You are putting the gauge after the regulator, right? Because if you measure pressure right at the faucet, but the regulator comes after the gauge, yeah you're still going to see 70 PSI.
If you see pressure going up and down as you use the hose, the gauge should be fine (and obviously it should go to 0 with no pressure). It's probably the cheap regulator that's just defective.