diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index 43bed5c..1576f08 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -313,37 +313,87 @@ _bl_dirty_since = None
 _BL_SAVE_DELAY_MS = 5000
 
 
-def set_backlight_color(i, r, g, b, brightness):
-    backlight_color[i] = (r, g, b)
-    backlight_brightness[i] = brightness
-    backlight_on[i] = True
-    _update_backlight(i)
+def _backlight_changed(gauge_idx, new_color, new_on, new_brightness):
+    return (
+        new_color != backlight_color[gauge_idx]
+        or new_on != backlight_on[gauge_idx]
+        or (new_on and new_brightness != backlight_brightness[gauge_idx])
+    )
 
 
-def set_backlight_brightness(i, brightness):
-    backlight_brightness[i] = brightness
-    backlight_on[i] = brightness > 0
-    _update_backlight(i)
+def _mark_bl_dirty():
+    global _bl_dirty_since
+    _bl_dirty_since = utime.ticks_ms()
 
 
-def set_status_led(i, color, state):
-    if color == "red":
-        status_led_red[i] = state
-        idx = i * (BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE) + BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
-    else:
-        status_led_green[i] = state
-        idx = i * (BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE) + BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + 1
-    leds_bl[idx] = (255 if state else 0, 0, 0) if color == "red" else (0, 255 if state else 0, 0)
-    leds_bl.write()
+def set_backlight_color(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness=None):
+    global backlight_color, backlight_brightness, backlight_on
+    if brightness is None:
+        brightness = backlight_brightness[gauge_idx]
+    new_on = brightness > 0
+    if not _backlight_changed(gauge_idx, (r, g, b), new_on, brightness):
+        return
+    backlight_color[gauge_idx] = (r, g, b)
+    if brightness > 0:
+        backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] = brightness
+    backlight_on[gauge_idx] = new_on
 
-
-def _update_backlight(i):
-    r, g, b = backlight_color[i]
-    br = backlight_brightness[i]
-    scaled_br = (br * 255 + 127) // 100
-    base = i * (BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE)
+    scale = brightness / 100
+    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
+    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge
     for j in range(BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE):
-        leds_bl[base + j] = (g if j < 2 else b, r if j < 1 else g, b)
+        leds_bl[base_idx + j] = (int(g * scale), int(r * scale), int(b * scale))
+    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
+    leds_bl.write()
+    _mark_bl_dirty()
+
+
+def set_backlight_brightness(gauge_idx, brightness):
+    global backlight_brightness, backlight_on
+    clamped = max(0, min(100, brightness))
+    new_on = clamped > 0
+    if not _backlight_changed(gauge_idx, backlight_color[gauge_idx], new_on, clamped):
+        return
+    if clamped > 0:
+        backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] = clamped
+    backlight_on[gauge_idx] = new_on
+    r, g, b = backlight_color[gauge_idx]
+    scale = clamped / 100
+    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
+    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge
+    for j in range(BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE):
+        leds_bl[base_idx + j] = (int(g * scale), int(r * scale), int(b * scale))
+    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
+    leds_bl.write()
+    _mark_bl_dirty()
+
+
+def _update_status_leds(gauge_idx):
+    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
+    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge + BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
+
+    g_cfg = gauges[gauge_idx]
+    red_color = g_cfg["ws2812_red"]
+    green_color = g_cfg["ws2812_green"]
+
+    if status_led_red[gauge_idx]:
+        leds_bl[base_idx] = (red_color[1], red_color[0], red_color[2])
+    else:
+        leds_bl[base_idx] = (0, 0, 0)
+
+    if status_led_green[gauge_idx]:
+        leds_bl[base_idx + 1] = (green_color[1], green_color[0], green_color[2])
+    else:
+        leds_bl[base_idx + 1] = (0, 0, 0)
+
+
+def set_status_led(gauge_idx, led_type, state):
+    global status_led_red, status_led_green
+    if led_type == "red":
+        status_led_red[gauge_idx] = state
+    elif led_type == "green":
+        status_led_green[gauge_idx] = state
+    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
     leds_bl.write()