diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index f703dc4..d6e9f27 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with co
 
 ## Build & Upload
 
-Main firmware lives in `Gaugecontroller/Gaugecontroller.ino`. Requires the **FastLED** library (`arduino-cli lib install FastLED`). Use the Arduino IDE or `arduino-cli`:
+Main firmware lives in `Gaugecontroller/Gaugecontroller.ino`. No external libraries required on the `Stepper-Only` branch. Use the Arduino IDE or `arduino-cli`:
 
 The ESP32 bridge runs ESPHome; the config is in `gaugecontroller.yaml`.
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ arduino-cli compile --fqbn arduino:avr:mega Gaugecontroller
 arduino-cli upload -p /dev/ttyACM0 --fqbn arduino:avr:mega Gaugecontroller
 ```
 
-Current default serial setup: `CMD_PORT` and `DEBUG_PORT` both point to `Serial1` at 38400 baud.
+Current default serial setup: `CMD_PORT` and `DEBUG_PORT` both point to `Serial` (USB) at 38400 baud.
 
 ## Switching serial ports (debug → production)
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Two `#define`s at the top of `Gaugecontroller.ino` control where commands and de
 #define DEBUG_PORT Serial1  // diagnostic prints (homing, boot messages)
 ```
 
-**Current default:** both point to `Serial1`, so command and debug traffic share Mega pins TX1=18 / RX1=19 at 38400 baud.
+**Current default:** both point to `Serial` (USB), so command and debug traffic go over the Arduino USB port at 38400 baud.
 
 **USB-only debug setup:** point both defines back at `Serial` if you want to talk to the sketch over the Arduino USB port instead:
 
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ The sketch controls `GAUGE_COUNT` stepper-motor gauges using a trapezoidal veloc
 
 ### Key data structures
 
-- `GaugePins` — hardware pin mapping per gauge (dir, step, enable, active-high/low polarity flags, `ledOrder` string). Declared `constexpr` so `TOTAL_LEDS` can be computed from it at compile time. Configured in the `gaugePins[]` array at the top.
-- `Gauge` — per-gauge runtime state: position, target, velocity, accel, homing state machine, sweep mode.
+- `GaugeConfig` — compile-time config per gauge: pin assignments (dir, step, enable, polarity flags) and motion defaults (minPos, maxPos, homingBackoffSteps, maxSpeed, accel, homingSpeed). All gauges are defined in `gauge_config.h` as `constexpr GaugeConfig gaugeConfigs[]`. `GAUGE_COUNT` is derived automatically from the array length.
+- `Gauge` — per-gauge runtime state: position, target, velocity, accel, homing state machine, sweep mode. Initialised from `gaugeConfigs[]` in `setup()`.
 
 ### Motion control (`updateGauge`)
 
@@ -76,10 +76,6 @@ Backs up `homingBackoffSteps` at `homingSpeed`, waits 100 ms settle, then declar
 
 When `sweepEnabled`, `updateSweepTarget` bounces `targetPos` between `minPos` and `maxPos` autonomously.
 
-### LED strip
-
-Two LED strips are driven: main backlight/status LEDs on `LED_DATA_PIN` (currently 22) and dial indicator LEDs on `INDICATOR_LED_DATA_PIN` (currently 36). The serial protocol still exposes one logical per-gauge LED segment: `0-2` backlight, `3-4` indicators, `5-6` status. `gaugePins[i].ledOrder` is a per-LED type string (one char per LED, `'G'` = GRB-ordered, `'R'` = RGB-ordered) and its length defines the logical LED count. `TOTAL_LEDS`, `TOTAL_MAIN_LEDS`, and `TOTAL_INDICATOR_LEDS` are computed at compile time. Per-gauge logical and physical offsets are cached in `setup()`. LED writes dirty only their physical strip, and the loop flushes each FastLED controller independently with `showLeds()`.
-
 ### Serial command protocol
 
 Commands arrive as newline-terminated ASCII lines. Each `parse*` function in `processLine` handles one command family:
@@ -94,18 +90,12 @@ Commands arrive as newline-terminated ASCII lines. Each `parse*` function in `pr
 | `HOME` | `HOME <id>` / `HOMEALL` | Run homing sequence |
 | `SWEEP` | `SWEEP <id> <accel> <speed>` | Start sweep (0/0 stops) |
 | `POS?` | `POS?` | Query all gauges: `POS <id> <cur> <tgt> <homed> <homingState> <sweep>` |
-| `LED` | `LED <id> <idx> <r> <g> <b>` | Set one LED (0-based index within gauge segment) to RGB colour (0–255 each); `<idx>` may be a range `N-M` to set LEDs N through M in one command; also stops any active effect on those LEDs |
-| `LED?` | `LED?` | Query all LEDs: one `LED <id> <idx> <r> <g> <b>` line per LED, then `OK` |
-| `BLINK` | `BLINK <id> <idx> <on_ms> <off_ms> <r> <g> <b>` | Blink LED(s) at given colour; `<idx>` may be a range `N-M`; `on_ms`/`off_ms` both 0 stops blinking. 4-arg form (no colour) uses current LED colour |
-| `BREATHE` | `BREATHE <id> <idx> <period_ms> <r> <g> <b>` | Smooth triangle-wave fade between black and the given colour; `<idx>` may be a range `N-M` |
-| `DFLASH` | `DFLASH <id> <idx> <r> <g> <b>` | Two quick flashes (100 ms on/off each) followed by a 700 ms pause, then repeats; `<idx>` may be a range `N-M` |
+| `CFG?` | `CFG?` | Query all gauges: `CFG <id> <maxSpeed> <accel>` per gauge |
 | `PING` | `PING` | Responds `PONG` |
 
 All commands reply `OK` or `ERR BAD_ID` / `ERR BAD_CMD` etc.
 
 ### Adding gauges
 
-1. Increment `GAUGE_COUNT`.
-2. Add a `constexpr GaugePins` entry to `gaugePins[]` (including the `ledOrder` string — one char per LED, `'G'` for GRB or `'R'` for RGB).
-3. Tune `maxPos` and `homingBackoffSteps` in the corresponding `Gauge` default or at runtime.
-4. `TOTAL_LEDS`, `gaugeLedOffset[]`, and `gaugeLedCount[]` update automatically — no manual changes needed.
+1. Open `Gaugecontroller/gauge_config.h` and append one row to `gaugeConfigs[]`.
+2. `GAUGE_COUNT` updates automatically — no other changes needed.