# Session: 2026-04-05 - Trading Log Analysis & Grid EA Shutdown Decision

## Participants
- **User**: Garfield (garfield@fetcherpay.com)
- **AI**: opencode

## Session Overview
Analyzed MT5 trading logs from March-April 2026 to understand why Confluence EA stopped trading. Discovered shared drawdown issue between both EAs.

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## 1. Log Analysis Findings

### Grid EA Issues (OrdersEA_Smart_Grid)
- Placed **dozens of grid orders per hour** on multiple pairs
- March 31: Grid after grid placed and filled (6-10 buy + 6-10 sell stops per cycle)
- When market moved against position, all levels filled → cascading losses
- **Root cause of ~$60K loss**: Earlier in March (Mar 24-30) with clustering bug

### Confluence EA Status
- Continuously **blocked by low signal strength** (0.00 < 0.70-0.85)
- **Volatility filters working** (ATR too low: 0.13-0.20% < 0.30%)
- Filters working as designed - market was choppy/ranging
- No drawdown protection triggered in recent logs

### Grid Clustering Fix (Already Applied April 1)
- Logs show "too close to price. Skipping" (fix working)
- Pre-April 1 logs showed old "Adjusting" behavior

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## 2. Equity Timeline from Logs

| Date | Time | Equity | Event |
|------|------|--------|-------|
| Mar 31 | 08:34 | $107,036 | Daily reset |
| Apr 1 | 15:11 | $106,952 | Declining |
| Apr 1 | 17:00 | $106,896 | End of day |
| Apr 2 | 17:00 | $107,084 | New day reset |

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## 3. Critical Discovery: Shared Drawdown

**Issue**: Both EAs share the same 3% daily drawdown limit.

From `2026-03-31-confluence-settings-update.md`:
- Both EAs check `AccountInfoDouble(ACCOUNT_EQUITY)` 
- Position counting IS correct (filters by symbol + magic)
- **Implication**: If Grid EA loses 2%, Confluence only has 1% remaining

**Code Location**: 
- `MultiSignal_Confluence_EA.mq5` lines 648-689
- `OrdersEA_Smart_Grid.mq5` - similar daily drawdown logic

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## 4. Decision: Shutdown Grid EA

**User Action**: Shut down Grid EA for the week to test if it's hogging equity.

**Reasoning**:
- Grid EA consuming daily drawdown budget
- Confluence EA blocked despite good signal filters
- Separating the two might allow Confluence to trade

**Steps**:
1. Disable/remove Grid EA from all charts
2. Restart Confluence EA to clear daily equity tracking
3. Monitor for Confluence trades over next few days

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## 5. What to Watch After Grid Shutdown

1. **Confluence should have full 3% daily budget** - more room to trade
2. **If still no trades**:
   - Still-ranging market (low ATR/ADX)
   - Signals below minimum strength (0.70-0.90)
   - Need MT5 restart to reset drawdown tracking
3. **If trades resume** - Grid was hogging equity

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## 6. Current Status (April 5, 2026)

- **Grid EA**: Being disabled this week
- **Confluence EA**: Running, awaiting trading opportunity
- **Market conditions**: Low volatility/ranging (ATR filters blocking)
- **Account**: ~$47% equity (still recovering)

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## Session Status: IN PROGRESS

Monitoring Confluence EA behavior without Grid EA competition.

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*Session recorded: 2026-04-05*