diff --git a/server/config.js b/server/config.js
index feb2a4e..2c41c8e 100644
--- a/server/config.js
+++ b/server/config.js
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ module.exports = {
   reconnectMaxBackoffMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_MAX_BACKOFF_MS) || 60000,
   reconnectMaxLevel: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_MAX_LEVEL) || 10,
   reconnectReleaseMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_RELEASE_MS) || 30000,
+  // #146 evict idle reconnect-throttle buckets so per-device state can't grow
+  // unbounded over churned device_ids (the sweep ota-breaker has but the #142
+  // throttle lacked). A device quiet this long has its bucket dropped.
+  reconnectIdleResetMs: parseInt(process.env.RECONNECT_IDLE_RESET_MS) || 60 * 60 * 1000,
   // Cold start: for this long after process start, lag is high while the whole
   // fleet reconnects at once. Treat leniently — force the 'normal' band and apply
   // only the hard ceiling (no rate-band throttle) so a deploy can't throttle
@@ -143,6 +147,18 @@ module.exports = {
   // is LOWER than the old hardcoded 7 days (the reporter's bloat happened under 7d);
   // 2-3 days is plenty for the dashboard's 24h uptime view + diagnostics.
   statusLogRetentionDays: parseFloat(process.env.STATUS_LOG_RETENTION_DAYS) || 3,
+  // #146 HARD per-device row-count ceiling on device_status_log, enforced by the
+  // global sweep alongside the age delete above. Age-based retention can't bound a
+  // write storm (rows are all younger than the window), so a reconnect storm grew
+  // the table to 1.1M. This cap keeps only the newest N transitions per device, so
+  // the table is bounded by (devices * N) REGARDLESS of churn — and the very first
+  // sweep trims the existing backlog (table healthy now, not in retentionDays).
+  statusLogMaxRowsPerDevice: parseInt(process.env.STATUS_LOG_MAX_ROWS_PER_DEVICE) || 500,
+  // #146 device_status_log write batching (lib/status-log-writer.js). Status
+  // transitions are buffered and coalesced to the NET state per device per flush,
+  // so a flapping device writes ~1 row/flush instead of a row per transition —
+  // breaking the storm -> table-growth -> slow-writes -> more-lag feedback loop.
+  statusLogFlushMs: parseInt(process.env.STATUS_LOG_FLUSH_MS) || 1000,
 
   // #142 content-ack dedup window (deviceSocket.js). A device (esp. older apps)
   // can spam "content <id>: ready" for the same item; suppress identical
diff --git a/server/db/database.js b/server/db/database.js
index ecc90ca..05699b6 100644
--- a/server/db/database.js
+++ b/server/db/database.js
@@ -764,8 +764,28 @@ function pruneStatusLog() {
   try {
     const maxAgeSec = Math.round(config.statusLogRetentionDays * 86400);
     const n = db.prepare("DELETE FROM device_status_log WHERE timestamp < strftime('%s','now') - ?").run(maxAgeSec).changes;
-    if (n > 0) console.log(`[status-log] pruned ${n} row(s) older than ${config.statusLogRetentionDays}d`);
-    return n;
+    // #146 HARD per-device row-count cap. Age alone can't bound a write storm: a
+    // reconnect storm writes faster than the age window expires (rows all younger
+    // than retentionDays), which is how prod reached 1.1M rows. Keep only the newest
+    // N transitions per device so the table is bounded by (devices * N) regardless
+    // of churn — and because this runs on startup + the heartbeat interval, the FIRST
+    // sweep trims the existing backlog immediately (healthy now, not in retentionDays).
+    const cap = config.statusLogMaxRowsPerDevice;
+    let capped = 0;
+    if (cap > 0) {
+      capped = db.prepare(`
+        DELETE FROM device_status_log
+        WHERE id NOT IN (
+          SELECT id FROM (
+            SELECT id, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY device_id ORDER BY timestamp DESC, id DESC) AS rn
+            FROM device_status_log
+          ) WHERE rn <= ?
+        )
+      `).run(cap).changes;
+    }
+    const total = n + capped;
+    if (total > 0) console.log(`[status-log] pruned ${n} row(s) older than ${config.statusLogRetentionDays}d + ${capped} over the ${cap}/device cap`);
+    return total;
   } catch (_) { return 0; }
 }
 
diff --git a/server/lib/ota-breaker.js b/server/lib/ota-breaker.js
index 967fe78..4b2db7a 100644
--- a/server/lib/ota-breaker.js
+++ b/server/lib/ota-breaker.js
@@ -87,7 +87,10 @@ function decide(clientVersion, latestVersion, deviceId = null, now = Date.now())
   if (b.hits.length > THRESHOLD) {                 // looping faster than a healthy device ever would
     const cd = COOLDOWNS_MS[Math.min(b.level, COOLDOWNS_MS.length - 1)];
     b.blockedUntil = now + cd;
-    b.level++;
+    // #146 cosmetic: cap the level counter so the log doesn't read "level 32". The
+    // backoff is already capped (Math.min above); the counter just shouldn't run away
+    // past the point where it stops affecting the cooldown.
+    b.level = Math.min(b.level + 1, COOLDOWNS_MS.length);
     b.hits = [];                                   // require a fresh burst to re-trip after cooldown
     return { update_available: false, reason: 'rate-backoff', retry_after_seconds: Math.ceil(cd / 1000),
              log: `[ota] breaker tripped key=${key} (>${THRESHOLD} checks/${Math.round(WINDOW_MS / 1000)}s, looping) -> backoff ${Math.round(cd / 1000)}s [level ${b.level}]` };
diff --git a/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js b/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js
index 88a5c91..684b40c 100644
--- a/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js
+++ b/server/lib/reconnect-throttle.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 const config = require('../config');
 const loopLag = require('../services/loop-lag');
 
-// deviceId -> { hits: number[], level: number, blockedUntil: ms, lastThrottleAt: ms }
+// deviceId -> { hits: number[], level: number, blockedUntil: ms, lastThrottleAt: ms, lastSeen: ms }
 const state = new Map();
 let startedAt = Date.now();
 
@@ -53,7 +53,12 @@ function check(deviceId, now = Date.now(), bandOverride = null) {
   const band = bandOverride !== null ? bandOverride : (warmup ? 'normal' : loopLag.getBand());
 
   let s = state.get(deviceId);
-  if (!s) { s = { hits: [], level: 0, blockedUntil: 0, lastThrottleAt: 0 }; state.set(deviceId, s); }
+  if (!s) { s = { hits: [], level: 0, blockedUntil: 0, lastThrottleAt: 0, lastSeen: now }; state.set(deviceId, s); }
+  // #146: a device quiet longer than the idle window starts fresh — so a long-gone
+  // device_id never carries stale escalation, and (with sweep below) its bucket is
+  // reclaimed. Mirrors ota-breaker's reset-on-access + sweep pair.
+  if (now - s.lastSeen > config.reconnectIdleResetMs) { s.hits = []; s.level = 0; s.blockedUntil = 0; s.lastThrottleAt = 0; }
+  s.lastSeen = now;
 
   // Already inside an enforced backoff window: reject and escalate (tighten fast).
   if (now < s.blockedUntil) {
@@ -89,10 +94,28 @@ function allow(s, now, band) {
   return { allow: true, band, level: s.level };
 }
 
+// #146: actively EVICT idle per-device buckets so keyed state can't grow unbounded
+// over churned device_ids (reinstalls mint new ids; reset-on-access alone never
+// deletes). The OTA breaker grew this exact sweep in #144; the #142 throttle missed
+// it. Bounded, off the hot path, runs on its own interval.
+function sweep(now = Date.now()) {
+  let n = 0;
+  for (const [k, s] of state) if (now - s.lastSeen > config.reconnectIdleResetMs) { state.delete(k); n++; }
+  if (n > 0) console.log(`[throttle] swept ${n} idle reconnect bucket(s) (idle > ${Math.round(config.reconnectIdleResetMs / 60000)}m); ${state.size} remain`);
+  return n;
+}
+let sweepTimer = null;
+function startSweep() {
+  if (sweepTimer) return sweepTimer;
+  sweepTimer = setInterval(() => sweep(), config.reconnectIdleResetMs);
+  if (sweepTimer.unref) sweepTimer.unref();   // don't keep the process alive on this timer
+  return sweepTimer;
+}
+
 // Test-only: clear state and optionally rewind the warm-up origin.
 function __resetForTest(opts = {}) {
   state.clear();
   if (opts.startedAt !== undefined) startedAt = opts.startedAt;
 }
 
-module.exports = { check, __resetForTest };
+module.exports = { check, sweep, startSweep, _size: () => state.size, __resetForTest };
diff --git a/server/lib/status-log-writer.js b/server/lib/status-log-writer.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb0ff62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/lib/status-log-writer.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// #146 — batched, coalescing writer for device_status_log.
+//
+// Before: every device status transition (online/offline/offline_timeout) did its
+// own synchronous INSERT on the hot path (deviceSocket.logDeviceStatus + the
+// heartbeat checker). Under a reconnect storm that is one row PER flap, which both
+// (a) bloats the table — it reached 1.1M rows in prod — and (b) makes each write
+// slower as the table grows, lagging status processing further. A textbook feedback
+// loop, the connection-layer twin of the OTA loop #144 contained.
+//
+// After: transitions are buffered in memory and flushed on an interval. The buffer
+// keeps only the LATEST (net) status per device, so a device that flaps
+// online->offline->online within a flush window collapses to at most one row — and
+// if it ends where it started, zero rows. devices.status (the dashboard's source of
+// truth) is still updated immediately by the callers; only the AUDIT log is batched,
+// so coalescing storm noise loses nothing the uptime view needs.
+//
+// State is in-memory and resets on restart (like the throttle / breaker buckets).
+
+const { db } = require('../db/database');
+const config = require('../config');
+
+const pending = new Map();      // deviceId -> latest desired status (net state)
+const lastWritten = new Map();  // deviceId -> last status actually inserted
+let timer = null;
+
+const insertStmt = () => db.prepare('INSERT INTO device_status_log (device_id, status) VALUES (?, ?)');
+// Per-device age prune — the #146 fix for the old hardcoded 7-day window in
+// deviceSocket.js (now a single source of truth: config.statusLogRetentionDays).
+const pruneDeviceStmt = () =>
+  db.prepare("DELETE FROM device_status_log WHERE device_id = ? AND timestamp < strftime('%s','now') - ?");
+
+// Record a transition. Cheap and allocation-light: just remembers the latest state.
+function record(deviceId, status) {
+  if (!deviceId || !status) return;
+  pending.set(deviceId, status);
+}
+
+// Write all buffered transitions whose net state differs from what's on disk.
+// Returns the number of rows actually inserted (for tests/observability).
+function flush() {
+  if (pending.size === 0) return 0;
+  const batch = [];
+  for (const [deviceId, status] of pending) {
+    if (lastWritten.get(deviceId) !== status) batch.push([deviceId, status]);
+  }
+  pending.clear();
+  if (batch.length === 0) return 0;
+
+  try {
+    const ins = insertStmt();
+    const prune = pruneDeviceStmt();
+    const ageSec = Math.round(config.statusLogRetentionDays * 86400);
+    const writeAll = db.transaction((rows) => {
+      for (const [deviceId, status] of rows) {
+        ins.run(deviceId, status);
+        lastWritten.set(deviceId, status);
+        prune.run(deviceId, ageSec);
+      }
+    });
+    writeAll(batch);
+    return batch.length;
+  } catch (_) {
+    // table might not exist yet (early boot) — drop silently, same as the old path
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+function start() {
+  if (timer) return timer;
+  timer = setInterval(flush, config.statusLogFlushMs);
+  if (timer.unref) timer.unref();  // don't keep the process alive on the flush timer
+  return timer;
+}
+
+// Test-only: force a synchronous flush and clear coalescing memory.
+function flushNow() { return flush(); }
+function __reset() { pending.clear(); lastWritten.clear(); }
+
+module.exports = { record, flush, flushNow, start, __reset };
diff --git a/server/server.js b/server/server.js
index 2e71aa0..1bbca82 100644
--- a/server/server.js
+++ b/server/server.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ function logFatalAndExit(kind, err) {
     const e = err instanceof Error ? err : new Error('Non-error thrown: ' + require('util').inspect(err));
     process.stderr.write(`\n[FATAL ${kind}] ${new Date().toISOString()}\n${e.stack || e.message}\n`);
   } catch (_) { /* the death handler must never throw */ }
+  try { require('./lib/status-log-writer').flush(); } catch (_) { /* #146 best-effort: drain buffered audit rows before close */ }
   try { require('./db/database').db.close(); } catch (_) { /* best-effort WAL flush */ }
   process.exit(1);
 }
@@ -580,6 +581,7 @@ app.use('/api/status', require('./routes/status'));
 // APK version check endpoint (public, used by devices to check for updates)
 const otaBreaker = require('./lib/ota-breaker');
 otaBreaker.startSweep();   // #144: periodically evict idle breaker buckets so keyed state stays bounded
+require('./lib/reconnect-throttle').startSweep();   // #146: same, for the reconnect throttle's per-device buckets
 app.get('/api/update/check', (req, res) => {
   const currentVersion = req.query.version;
   const deviceId = req.query.device_id || null;   // #144: optional; beta4+ clients send it for per-device keying
diff --git a/server/services/heartbeat.js b/server/services/heartbeat.js
index 441b79c..54ae960 100644
--- a/server/services/heartbeat.js
+++ b/server/services/heartbeat.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const { db, pruneStatusLog } = require('../db/database');
 const config = require('../config');
 const { deviceRoom, emitToWorkspace } = require('../lib/socket-rooms');
+const statusLogWriter = require('../lib/status-log-writer');
 
 // Track connected device sockets: deviceId -> { socketId, lastHeartbeat }
 const deviceConnections = new Map();
@@ -10,6 +11,11 @@ function startHeartbeatChecker(io) {
   // table immediately after a deploy), then again on each interval below.
   pruneStatusLog();
 
+  // #146: start the batched device_status_log flush loop.
+  statusLogWriter.start();
+
+  const deviceNs = io.of('/device');
+
   setInterval(() => {
     const now = Date.now();
     const dashboardNs = io.of('/dashboard');
@@ -19,6 +25,17 @@ function startHeartbeatChecker(io) {
 
     for (const device of onlineDevices) {
       const conn = deviceConnections.get(device.id);
+
+      // #146: a device with a live, still-connected socket is UP, even if its last
+      // heartbeat event is stuck behind a lagged event loop. Marking it offline on a
+      // stale in-memory lastHeartbeat was the second false-offline cause (the screen
+      // is online and playing, the CMS says offline). The socket still being in the
+      // /device namespace is the authoritative liveness signal — trust it over the
+      // (possibly queued) heartbeat clock. If the socket is genuinely gone, conn is
+      // either absent or points at a socket no longer in the namespace, and we fall
+      // through to the timeout below.
+      if (conn && deviceNs.sockets.has(conn.socketId)) continue;
+
       const lastBeat = conn ? conn.lastHeartbeat : (device.last_heartbeat ? device.last_heartbeat * 1000 : 0);
 
       if (now - lastBeat > config.heartbeatTimeout) {
@@ -34,9 +51,8 @@ function startHeartbeatChecker(io) {
         });
 
         console.log(`Device ${device.id} marked offline (heartbeat timeout)`);
-        try {
-          db.prepare('INSERT INTO device_status_log (device_id, status) VALUES (?, ?)').run(device.id, 'offline_timeout');
-        } catch (_) {}
+        // #146: batch through the coalescing writer (was an immediate INSERT here).
+        statusLogWriter.record(device.id, 'offline_timeout');
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/server/test/evicted-socket-rearm.test.js b/server/test/evicted-socket-rearm.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6dcde96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/evicted-socket-rearm.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #146 cause-1 — the evicted-socket offline-timer RE-ARM race, test-PROVEN.
+//
+// This is the subtler/primary false-offline cause. In the register handler,
+// evictPriorSocket() runs BEFORE registerConnection() puts the NEW socket in the
+// connection map. So when the evicted OLD socket's 'disconnect' fires, the map still
+// points at the old socket, the stale-disconnect guard passes, and (pre-fix) it ARMS
+// a fresh 5s offline timer — for a device that just reconnected. Under loop-lag that
+// timer fires before the new socket's registerConnection lands and marks a live,
+// just-reconnected screen offline. The fix tags the evicted socket id so its
+// disconnect handler bails instead of arming a timer.
+//
+// In-process (not a spawned server) so we can inspect deviceSocket's internal
+// pendingOfflines/evictedSockets via the __ test hooks. Neutralize the
+// `if (evictedSockets.delete(socket.id)) return;` line in deviceSocket.js and this
+// test goes RED (a pending offline timer survives the reconnect) — same teeth
+// standard as the cause-2 mutation check.
+
+const { test, before, after } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const crypto = require('node:crypto');
+
+// Isolate the DB BEFORE requiring config/database (they read env at load time).
+process.env.DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-evict-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
+process.env.SELF_HOSTED = 'true';
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test';
+
+const http = require('node:http');
+const { Server } = require('socket.io');
+const ioClient = require('socket.io-client');
+const setupDeviceSocket = require('../ws/deviceSocket');
+
+let httpServer, io, base;
+const sleep = (ms) => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms));
+
+before(async () => {
+  httpServer = http.createServer();
+  io = new Server(httpServer);
+  setupDeviceSocket(io);
+  await new Promise((r) => httpServer.listen(0, r));
+  base = `http://127.0.0.1:${httpServer.address().port}`;
+});
+
+after(() => {
+  try { setupDeviceSocket.__resetTimers(); } catch { /* */ }
+  try { io.close(); } catch { /* */ }
+  try { httpServer.close(); } catch { /* */ }
+});
+
+const connect = () => ioClient(`${base}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+
+function provision() {
+  const code = String(crypto.randomInt(100000, 1000000));
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const s = connect();
+    s.on('connect', () => s.emit('device:register', { pairing_code: code }));
+    s.on('device:registered', (d) => resolve({ sock: s, id: d.device_id, token: d.device_token }));
+    setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 3000);
+  });
+}
+
+// Register an existing device on a fresh socket (the genuine-reconnect path that
+// triggers evictPriorSocket). Resolves true on device:registered.
+function registerOn(sock, dev) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    sock.on('device:registered', () => resolve(true));
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register',
+      { device_id: dev.id, device_token: dev.token, device_info: { app_version: 'test' } }));
+    setTimeout(() => resolve(false), 3000);
+  });
+}
+
+test('cause-1: a reconnect that evicts the prior socket leaves NO surviving offline timer', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev, 'provisioned');
+  dev.sock.close();                 // drop the provisioning socket
+  await sleep(120);
+
+  // socket1 becomes the established live connection. Its register also clears any
+  // pending-offline left by the provisioning socket's disconnect -> clean baseline.
+  const s1 = connect();
+  assert.ok(await registerOn(s1, dev), 'socket1 registered');
+  await sleep(60);
+  assert.equal(setupDeviceSocket.__pendingOfflineCount(), 0,
+    'baseline: no offline timer pending after the first live registration');
+
+  // socket2 reconnects for the SAME device -> evictPriorSocket disconnects socket1.
+  // socket1's disconnect handler runs while the map still points at socket1 (the new
+  // socket isn't registered yet) — the exact window the cause-1 fix must cover.
+  const s2 = connect();
+  assert.ok(await registerOn(s2, dev), 'socket2 registered (evicting socket1)');
+  await sleep(300);                 // let socket1's eviction-disconnect process
+
+  // THE PROOF: the evicted socket1 must NOT have armed an offline timer for a device
+  // that is, right now, live on socket2. Pre-fix this is true (timer armed) -> red.
+  assert.equal(setupDeviceSocket.__hasPendingOffline(dev.id), false,
+    'no offline timer may survive the reconnect (cause-1 re-arm race)');
+
+  // Lifecycle (a): the eviction flag self-drains on the evicted socket's disconnect,
+  // so the set is bounded by in-flight evictions and cannot leak.
+  assert.equal(setupDeviceSocket.__evictedSize(), 0,
+    'evictedSockets self-drained once the evicted socket disconnected');
+
+  s1.close(); s2.close();
+});
diff --git a/server/test/reconnect-storm-load.test.js b/server/test/reconnect-storm-load.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45fbb26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/reconnect-storm-load.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// #146 — reconnect/heartbeat STORM load harness (the connection-hot-path proof).
+//
+// Boots the real server and drives real websocket churn through the actual register/
+// disconnect/heartbeat path. Asserts the five guarantees beta5 must hold under load:
+//   (a) the reconnect breaker engages on a flapper and backs it off
+//   (b) a reconnecting device's offline status clears cleanly — and STAYS cleared
+//       (the false-offline self-reset: a live socket must never be re-marked offline)
+//   (c) a normal (non-flapping) reconnect is never throttled and is online immediately
+//   (d) status-log writes are batched/coalesced — N flaps != N row inserts
+//   (e) loop-lag stays bounded while the fleet churns
+//
+// Timings are compressed via env so the suite runs in seconds:
+//   HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT=1500 + HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL=500  -> the checker decides liveness
+//     within ~2s, so (b)/(c) don't wait on the 45s prod timeout.
+//   STATUS_LOG_FLUSH_MS=300                            -> batching is observable fast.
+//   RECONNECT_* tightened so a single-device storm trips without thousands of connects
+//     while a 12-device fleet herd stays under the ceiling (same shape as the #142 test).
+
+const { test, before, after } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { spawn } = require('node:child_process');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const os = require('node:os');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const crypto = require('node:crypto');
+const ioClient = require('socket.io-client');
+const Database = require('better-sqlite3');
+
+const PORT = 3997;   // must be unique across the suite (files run concurrently under `node --test`)
+const BASE = `http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}`;
+const DATA_DIR = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-storm-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex'));
+const LOG = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'st-storm-' + crypto.randomBytes(4).toString('hex') + '.log');
+let proc, rdb;
+
+const sleep = (ms) => new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, ms));
+
+before(async () => {
+  const logFd = fs.openSync(LOG, 'w');
+  proc = spawn('node', ['server.js'], {
+    cwd: path.join(__dirname, '..'),
+    env: {
+      ...process.env, DATA_DIR, SELF_HOSTED: 'true', PORT: String(PORT), NODE_ENV: 'test',
+      HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT: '1500', HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL: '500',
+      STATUS_LOG_FLUSH_MS: '300',
+      RECONNECT_HARD_CEILING: '8', RECONNECT_WINDOW_MS: '5000', RECONNECT_BASE_MAX: '3',
+    },
+    stdio: ['ignore', logFd, logFd],
+  });
+  let up = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 80; i++) {
+    try { const r = await fetch(BASE + '/api/status'); if (r.ok) { up = true; break; } } catch { /* */ }
+    await sleep(250);
+  }
+  if (!up) throw new Error('server did not boot:\n' + fs.readFileSync(LOG, 'utf8').slice(-2000));
+  // Second connection to the same WAL db; SELECT-only, autocommit so each read sees
+  // the server's latest commit. Never writes.
+  rdb = new Database(path.join(DATA_DIR, 'db', 'remote_display.db'));
+  rdb.pragma('busy_timeout = 3000');
+});
+
+after(() => {
+  try { rdb && rdb.close(); } catch { /* */ }
+  try { proc.kill('SIGKILL'); } catch { /* */ }
+});
+
+const statusOf = (id) => rdb.prepare('SELECT status FROM devices WHERE id = ?').get(id)?.status;
+const logCount = (id) => rdb.prepare('SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM device_status_log WHERE device_id = ?').get(id).c;
+
+// Provision a brand-new device via a unique pairing code -> {id, token}.
+function provision() {
+  const code = String(crypto.randomInt(100000, 1000000));
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const sock = ioClient(`${BASE}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register', { pairing_code: code }));
+    sock.on('device:registered', (d) => { try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve({ id: d.device_id, token: d.device_token }); });
+    setTimeout(() => { try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve(null); }, 4000);
+  });
+}
+
+// One genuine reconnect on a fresh socket that CLOSES right after -> {registered, throttled, retryAfterMs}.
+function reconnect(dev) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const sock = ioClient(`${BASE}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+    let done = false;
+    const finish = (r) => { if (done) return; done = true; try { sock.close(); } catch { /* */ } resolve(r); };
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register', { device_id: dev.id, device_token: dev.token, device_info: { app_version: 'test' } }));
+    sock.on('device:registered', () => finish({ registered: true, throttled: false }));
+    sock.on('device:throttled', (m) => finish({ registered: false, throttled: true, retryAfterMs: m?.retry_after_ms }));
+    setTimeout(() => finish({ registered: false, throttled: false }), 1500);
+  });
+}
+
+// Genuine reconnect that KEEPS the socket open (and sends NO app-level heartbeats).
+function reconnectHold(dev) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    const sock = ioClient(`${BASE}/device`, { transports: ['websocket'], reconnection: false, forceNew: true });
+    sock.on('connect', () => sock.emit('device:register', { device_id: dev.id, device_token: dev.token, device_info: { app_version: 'test' } }));
+    sock.on('device:registered', () => resolve(sock));
+    setTimeout(() => resolve(sock), 1500);
+  });
+}
+
+// (a) breaker engages on a flapper + backs it off ---------------------------------
+test('(a) a flapping device trips the reconnect breaker with a backoff', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev, 'provisioned');
+  let throttled = 0, registered = 0, sawBackoff = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) {           // 12 genuine reconnects in the 5s window > ceiling 8
+    const r = await reconnect(dev);
+    if (r.registered) registered++;
+    if (r.throttled) { throttled++; if (r.retryAfterMs > 0) sawBackoff = true; }
+  }
+  assert.ok(throttled >= 1, `flapper must be throttled (got ${throttled})`);
+  assert.ok(sawBackoff, 'throttle must carry a positive backoff (retry_after_ms)');
+  assert.ok(registered < 12, `not every flap should register (got ${registered}/12)`);
+});
+
+// (b) reconnecting device's offline clears AND stays clear -------------------------
+// This is the false-offline self-reset guarantee. We drive the device offline via the
+// checker, reconnect, hold the socket open WITHOUT sending heartbeats, and verify it
+// stays online across >2x the heartbeat timeout. Pre-fix, the checker re-marks a
+// live-but-silent socket offline within ~1.5s (stuck-offline flapping); post-fix the
+// live socket short-circuits the checker so it stays cleanly online.
+test('(b) a reconnected device clears offline and is NOT re-marked offline while live', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev);
+
+  // Drive it offline: open then immediately close a socket, let the checker mark it.
+  const s0 = await reconnectHold(dev);
+  s0.close();
+  let offline = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) { await sleep(300); if (statusOf(dev.id) === 'offline') { offline = true; break; } }
+  assert.ok(offline, 'device should be marked offline after its socket drops');
+
+  // Reconnect and HOLD the socket open, sending no heartbeats.
+  const s1 = await reconnectHold(dev);
+  assert.equal(statusOf(dev.id), 'online', 'reconnect clears offline immediately');
+
+  // Stay live for >2x heartbeat timeout (1500ms). Must remain online the whole time.
+  for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+    await sleep(500);
+    assert.equal(statusOf(dev.id), 'online', `must stay online while the socket is live (tick ${i})`);
+  }
+  s1.close();
+});
+
+// (c) a normal reconnect is never throttled and is online immediately --------------
+test('(c) a single normal reconnect is not throttled and clears status at once', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev);
+  // make it offline first so we can see the clear
+  const s0 = await reconnectHold(dev); s0.close();
+  let offline = false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) { await sleep(300); if (statusOf(dev.id) === 'offline') { offline = true; break; } }
+  assert.ok(offline, 'device offline before the clean reconnect');
+
+  const r = await reconnect(dev);
+  assert.ok(r.registered, 'normal reconnect registers');
+  assert.ok(!r.throttled, 'normal reconnect is NOT throttled');
+  // status went online on reconnect (reconnect() closes its socket, but the UPDATE
+  // to devices.status already happened during register).
+  assert.equal(statusOf(dev.id), 'online', 'a normal reconnect clears offline immediately');
+});
+
+// (d) status-log writes are batched/coalesced -------------------------------------
+test('(d) a flap storm does NOT write one status-log row per transition', async () => {
+  const dev = await provision();
+  assert.ok(dev);
+  const before = logCount(dev.id);
+  const FLAPS = 20;
+  for (let i = 0; i < FLAPS; i++) { const s = await reconnectHold(dev); s.close(); }
+  await sleep(1000);   // let the 300ms flusher settle
+  const written = logCount(dev.id) - before;
+  assert.ok(written < FLAPS, `batched: ${written} rows for ${FLAPS} flaps must be < ${FLAPS}`);
+  assert.ok(written <= 6, `coalesced to net state: expected a handful of rows, got ${written}`);
+});
+
+// (e) loop-lag stays bounded under churn ------------------------------------------
+test('(e) loop-lag stays bounded while the fleet churns', async () => {
+  const fleet = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) { const d = await provision(); if (d) fleet.push(d); }
+  assert.ok(fleet.length >= 8, 'fleet provisioned');
+  // Two rounds of whole-fleet reconnects concurrently — a churn burst.
+  for (let round = 0; round < 2; round++) await Promise.all(fleet.map(reconnect));
+  const r = await fetch(BASE + '/api/status');
+  const body = await r.json();
+  const p99 = body.loop_lag?.p99_ms;
+  assert.ok(typeof p99 === 'number', 'status exposes loop_lag.p99_ms');
+  // Prod's runaway simmer bounced 300-1145ms with a 4345ms spike; under the bounded
+  // churn here it must stay well under that ceiling.
+  assert.ok(p99 < 1000, `loop-lag p99 must stay bounded under churn (was ${p99}ms)`);
+});
diff --git a/server/ws/deviceSocket.js b/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
index de9d251..230ea11 100644
--- a/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
+++ b/server/ws/deviceSocket.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const heartbeat = require('../services/heartbeat');
 const commandQueue = require('../lib/command-queue');
 const reconnectThrottle = require('../lib/reconnect-throttle');
 const contentAckLimiter = require('../lib/content-ack-limiter');
+const statusLogWriter = require('../lib/status-log-writer');
 const loopLag = require('../services/loop-lag');
 
 // Debounce window for marking a device offline on socket disconnect. Brief
@@ -22,6 +23,15 @@ const loopLag = require('../services/loop-lag');
 const pendingOfflines = new Map();
 const OFFLINE_DEBOUNCE_MS = 5000;
 
+// #146: socket ids we force-disconnected via evictPriorSocket because a NEWER socket
+// took over the device. evictPriorSocket runs at register time BEFORE the new socket
+// is put in the connection map (registerConnection is later in the same handler), so
+// the evicted socket's disconnect handler would see the still-old map entry, pass the
+// stale-disconnect guard, and ARM a fresh offline timer — re-marking the device that
+// just reconnected offline (the self-reset race). Tagging the id here lets that
+// disconnect handler bail out instead of arming a timer. Drained on consumption.
+const evictedSockets = new Set();
+
 // Proof-of-play write throttle. A player stuck in a tight loop (e.g. a playlist
 // with 0-second item durations) fires device:play-event 'play_start' several
 // times per second; unthrottled this once bloated play_logs to ~900k rows
@@ -74,12 +84,14 @@ function getClientIp(socket) {
   return socket.handshake.address;
 }
 
+// #146: route status transitions through the batched, coalescing writer instead of
+// an immediate INSERT-per-transition. A flapping device no longer writes a row per
+// flap (the table-bloat feedback loop); the per-device age prune now lives in the
+// writer and uses config.statusLogRetentionDays (was a hardcoded 7 days here — one
+// source of truth). devices.status is still updated immediately by callers; only
+// this audit log is deferred to the next flush.
 function logDeviceStatus(deviceId, status) {
-  try {
-    db.prepare('INSERT INTO device_status_log (device_id, status) VALUES (?, ?)').run(deviceId, status);
-    // Prune entries older than 7 days
-    db.prepare("DELETE FROM device_status_log WHERE device_id = ? AND timestamp < strftime('%s','now') - 604800").run(deviceId);
-  } catch (e) { /* table might not exist yet */ }
+  statusLogWriter.record(deviceId, status);
 }
 
 
@@ -254,7 +266,10 @@ module.exports = function setupDeviceSocket(io) {
     const oldSocket = deviceNs.sockets.get(prior.socketId);
     if (oldSocket) {
       console.log(`Evicting prior socket ${prior.socketId} for device ${deviceId}`);
-      try { oldSocket.disconnect(true); } catch (_) {}
+      // Mark BEFORE disconnect: disconnect(true) fires the old socket's 'disconnect'
+      // handler synchronously, so the flag must already be set when it runs.
+      evictedSockets.add(prior.socketId);
+      try { oldSocket.disconnect(true); } catch (_) { evictedSockets.delete(prior.socketId); }
     }
   }
 
@@ -772,6 +787,14 @@ module.exports = function setupDeviceSocket(io) {
     });
 
     socket.on('disconnect', () => {
+      // #146: this socket was force-evicted by a newer registration for the same
+      // device. The new socket owns the device now (or is mid-register), so this
+      // disconnect must NOT arm an offline timer — doing so was the self-reset race
+      // that re-marked just-reconnected devices offline. The map-based stale guard
+      // below can't catch it because eviction runs before the new socket is in the
+      // map. Drain the flag and bail. (delete() returns true iff it was present.)
+      if (evictedSockets.delete(socket.id)) return;
+
       if (!currentDeviceId) return;
 
       // Stale-disconnect guard: a newer socket already took over this device_id
@@ -853,3 +876,16 @@ module.exports = function setupDeviceSocket(io) {
 
   return deviceNs;
 };
+
+// #146 test hooks — read-only views of the internal offline-timer / eviction state,
+// so the cause-1 re-arm race (evicted socket arming an offline timer for a
+// just-reconnected device) is test-PROVEN, not just correct-by-construction. Prefixed
+// `__` and never used by production code.
+module.exports.__hasPendingOffline = (deviceId) => pendingOfflines.has(deviceId);
+module.exports.__pendingOfflineCount = () => pendingOfflines.size;
+module.exports.__evictedSize = () => evictedSockets.size;
+module.exports.__resetTimers = () => {
+  for (const t of pendingOfflines.values()) clearTimeout(t);
+  pendingOfflines.clear();
+  evictedSockets.clear();
+};