ammeter

plural ammeters · alternative ammetre · alternative Ampère meter

1. A device that measures the magnitude of an electric current, especially one calibrated in amperes.

   The engineman and fireman who would take the great train on the first two hundred mile lap into the south lolled in the spotless aluminium cabin, twelve feet above the track, watching the ammeter and the air-pressure dial, ready to go.

   1954, Ian Fleming, “The Silver Phantom”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 95

   1 more example

   The controllers of these diesels do not move round in notches, so that the driver's only sure guide to the way in which he is working his locomotive is his ammeter, corresponding in a way to the steam-chest pressure gauge of a steam locomotive. When the diesel was being worked full out, the ammeter normally showed about 1,500-1,600 amps, with occasional surges of current at starting or up the steepest gradients to 1,700 or even 1,800 amps.

   1959 March, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 131–132

   Synonyms: amperemeter, amperimeter, amperometer