diff --git a/include/LCDDisplay.hpp b/include/LCDDisplay.hpp
index e5c85f8..5179a5c 100644
--- a/include/LCDDisplay.hpp
+++ b/include/LCDDisplay.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class LCDDisplay {
 
     void setContrast(uint8_t contrast);
     void setBacklight(bool enabled);
+    void setBacklight(uint8_t brightness);
     void setCursor(uint8_t row, uint8_t col);
     void setCustomChar(uint8_t index, std::array<uint8_t, 8> cchar);
 
diff --git a/src/LCDDisplay.cpp b/src/LCDDisplay.cpp
index 8ad41b4..aacc557 100644
--- a/src/LCDDisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/LCDDisplay.cpp
@@ -53,22 +53,26 @@ void LCDDisplay::setBacklight(bool enabled) {
     write(_lcd, &cmdbuf, enabled ? 3 : 2);
 }
 
+/* doesnt quite work yet, need to look up matrix orbital spec */
+void LCDDisplay::setBacklight(uint8_t brightness) {
+    std::println("[LCDDisplay::setBacklight] Set backlight brightness to {}", brightness);
+    uint8_t cmdbuf[] = {254, (uint8_t)(brightness ? 66 : 70), brightness};
+    write(_lcd, &cmdbuf, brightness ? 3 : 2);
+}
+
+
 void LCDDisplay::setCursor(uint8_t row, uint8_t col) {
     uint8_t cmdbuf[] = {254, 71, (uint8_t)(col + 1), (uint8_t)(row + 1)};
     write(_lcd, &cmdbuf, 4);
 }
 
 void LCDDisplay::setCustomChar(uint8_t index, std::array<uint8_t, 8> cchar) {
-    uint8_t cmdbuf[11];
-    cmdbuf[0] = 254;
-    cmdbuf[1] = 78;
-    cmdbuf[2] = index;
+    uint8_t cmdbuf[11] = {254, 78, index, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0};
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++)
         cmdbuf[i + 3] = cchar[i];
     write(_lcd, &cmdbuf, 11);
 }
 
-
 void LCDDisplay::writeStr(std::string str) {
     write(_lcd, str.c_str(), str.size());
 }
@@ -100,8 +104,8 @@ void LCDDisplay::clearBuf() {
 
 /* hyper optimized buffer flush command, writes whole disp with a single write */
 void LCDDisplay::flushBuf() {
-    uint8_t writebuf[168];                   // 4x40 chars + 2x4 setcursor commands
-    uint8_t setDisp[] = {254, 71, 1, 1};     // set cursor to char 1, line 1
+    uint8_t writebuf[168];                // 4x40 chars + 2x4 setcursor commands
+    uint8_t setDisp[] = {254, 71, 1, 1};  // set cursor to char 1, line 1
 
     std::memcpy(&writebuf[0], setDisp, 4);        // copy set cursor command
     std::memcpy(&writebuf[4], linebuf[0], 40);    // copy 1st line
@@ -114,7 +118,6 @@ void LCDDisplay::flushBuf() {
     write(_lcd, writebuf, 168);
 }
 
-
 char LCDDisplay::bar(uint8_t char_id, double value) {
     std::array<uint8_t, 8> b;
     b.fill(0b01110);