Bob - Thank you for all this information. Here is what I have done previously. First of all the supply pipe from the water meter comes into the house and then branches off in two directions. One branch is the entire house, whereas the other branch is strictly an outside hose bib. This hose bib is not controlled by the pressure regulator and this is where I attached a hose type gage. In standby, the outside pressure is 116 psi. If I turn on a faucet inside the house that has an 8 gpm flow, the outside pressure drops slightly, if my memory serves me right, to about 113 psi. So I think from this it can be said that it is not a supply problem. I have another gauge permanently mounted next to an expansion tank which is next to the water heater. This gauge comes off a 3/4" main line, not a 1/2" branch line. The gauge has a fitting on it, it is not a hose type gage. The pressure readings inside the house that I've reported in the threads above, are taken from that gauge. This gauge is about 50 ft (pipe length - all 3/4") from the regulator. In fact it is at the end of the pipe run, so I assume that readings on this gauge reflect losses in the regulator and probably my pipes. I have also replaced the old shut off valve. What I've installed are two 3/4" full port ball valves on either side of the regulator. With this information my question is - is there enough data here to reach any conclusions or do you still think I need to make provisions for installation of pressure gauges on either side of the regulator?
Thank you,
Jerry