diff --git a/src/SmartStrip.cpp b/src/SmartStrip.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ddce152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SmartStrip.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#include "SmartStrip.hpp"
+
+#define LEDSTRIPE_PIN 15 // D8
+
+void SmartStrip::init()
+{
+    FastLED.addLeds<NEOPIXEL, LEDSTRIPE_PIN>(leds, 15);
+    reset();
+}
+
+void SmartStrip::reset()
+{
+    FastLED.clear(true);
+    FastLED.show();
+}
+
+void SmartStrip::setGreen(int led)
+{
+    leds[led].setRGB(0, 2, 0);
+    FastLED.show();
+}
+
+void SmartStrip::progressBar(int min, int max, int val)
+{
+    // starts at 14 and goes down to 0 as steeping continues
+    int level = map(val, min, max, 0, 14);
+
+    // TODO: only update strip when necessarry
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/SmartStrip.hpp b/src/SmartStrip.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fd68e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SmartStrip.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <FastLED.h>
+
+#define PIXELCOUNT 15
+
+
+class SmartStrip
+{
+public:
+
+    void init();
+
+    void reset();
+
+    void setGreen(int led);
+
+    void progressBar(int min, int max, int val);
+
+private:
+    CRGB leds[PIXELCOUNT]; // Define the array of leds
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 3dd3efa..42f3cb4 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 #include "main.hpp"
 #include "secrets.hpp"
-#include <FastLED.h>
 
 #define WIRE Wire
 
-#define SERVO_PIN 14         // D5
-#define POTENTIOMETER_PIN A0 // A0
-#define BUZZER_PIN 12        // D6
-#define LEDSTRIPE_PIN 15     // D8
+#define SERVO_PIN 14     // D5
+#define BUZZER_PIN 12    // D6
+#define LEDSTRIPE_PIN 15 // D8
 
 // buttons
 #define TACTILE_BTN_LEFT 0  // D3
@@ -24,17 +22,11 @@ Adafruit_PN532 nfc(PN532_IRQ, PN532_RESET); // RFID with I2C
 #define DISPLAY_PIN 4 // D2 (SDA)
 auto display = Adafruit_SSD1306(128, 32, &WIRE);
 
-// FastLED
-#define PIXELCOUNT 15
-CRGB leds[PIXELCOUNT]; // Define the array of leds
-
 // util classes
-// ContinuousServo contServo(SERVO_PIN);
-// SmartContServo smartServo(SERVO_PIN);
+SmartStrip smartStrip;
 SmartServo smartServo(SERVO_PIN);
 TeaTimer teaTimer(&smartServo);
 SmartRFID smartRFID(&nfc);
-SmartDial smartDial(POTENTIOMETER_PIN);
 SmartDisplay smartDisplay(&display);
 TeaNetworking teaNet;
 
@@ -72,23 +64,11 @@ void setup()
 
   smartServo.moveServoToZero();
 
-  // FastLED setup
-  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, LEDSTRIPE_PIN, RGB>(leds, PIXELCOUNT);
-  FastLED.clear(true);
-  FastLED.show();
-  delay(500);
+  smartStrip.init();
 
-  leds[0].setRGB(2, 0, 0);
-  FastLED.show();
-  delay(500);
-
-  leds[10].setRGB(0, 2, 0);
-  FastLED.show();
-  delay(500);
-
-  leds[14].setRGB(0, 0, 2);
-  FastLED.show();
-  delay(500);
+  smartStrip.setGreen(0);
+  smartStrip.setGreen(7);
+  smartStrip.setGreen(14);
 
   smartRFID.init();
 
@@ -250,6 +230,7 @@ void loop()
       }
       teaTimer.beginSteeping(currentTea.m_steepingSeconds * 1000);
       state = State::STEEPING_IN_PROGRESS;
+      smartStrip.reset();
     }
     break;
   }
@@ -270,6 +251,9 @@ void loop()
 
       auto r = teaTimer.remainingSteepTimeSeconds();
       smartDisplay.printTeaSteepingProgressScreen(currentTea, r);
+
+      // update led strip
+      smartStrip.progressBar(0, currentTea.m_steepingSeconds, r);
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/main.hpp b/src/main.hpp
index d458c84..668673c 100644
--- a/src/main.hpp
+++ b/src/main.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <LittleFS.h>
 #include <time.h>
 
+#include "SmartStrip.hpp"
 #include "TeaTimer.hpp"
 #include "SmartRFID.hpp"
 #include "ContinuousServo.hpp"