So, I'm all set up with dimming through Soundlab 4-channel dimmers as recommended to go with the webbrick.

I have Candles, GLS and Golfballs in antique chandeliers.

Then incandescent bulbs are banned.

What to do?

I did buy one of the "dimmable" CFLs to experiment. It acted digitally - going on/off at about 60% (6V out of the Webbrick)

Presumably this is because the CFL is designed to go with the wall-mounted dimmers which use some method other than varying the (max 240V) voltage.

Has anybody experimented with Halogen Candles? (E.g http://www.yourwelcome.co.uk/acatalog/Halogen_Candles.html )

Will LEDs dim given variable voltage?

For my next build I'm thinking that the best approach is LED golfballs and candles. The transformers presumably need to be close to the chandeliers, so I seem to be facing either digging holes in ceilings or building boxes attached to the ceiling (with elegant covers) to take the transformers. Does anybody have any better ideas?

But for the existing build I really don't want to mess up the ceiling - currently the only feasible approach seems to be to buy thousands of incandescent bulbs.

(P.S. Going for downlighters just isn't what I want aesthetically in late nineteenth century buildings)

 Richard

 Not all dimmable CFLs are born equal.  Some are truly dreadful at dimming, and we've seen it get much worse when multiples are used.

 The Soundlab likes to have a truly resistive load.  NJD dimmers are a bit more tolerant.

 If you can get at the supply end of the wiring, using 12V LEDs may work for you, some are perfectly dimmable.

 We are currently getting very good results from the 1.2W types from Ultraleds.  I have these lighting a large landing at home and Philipp reports that three have done a great job in his kite-surfing van.

Andy

The LEDs I have used are and warm and dim beautifully as you would expect. The exact ones can be found here:

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/recess-downlighter-angled-complete-unit-warm-white-lume-p-1997.html

but I know that Andy has had really good results with other LEDs for UltraLEDs as well. 

Philipp