🔧Troubleshooting

Having issues with BananaEA? This guide covers the most common problems and their solutions. Find your issue below and follow the step-by-step fixes.

🚨 Critical Issues (Fix Immediately)

⚠️ EA Not Trading Improve win rate:

Use tested presets (don't free-hand everything).
Ensure SL/TP ratios are aligned with your preset.
Trade symbols/timeframes your preset was designed for.
Avoid low-liquidity hours; use the session window. Symptoms: EA is attached but no trades are placed, no signals appear.

Most common causes & fixes:

AutoTrading disabled
- Fix: Click AutoTrading in MT4 (must be green).
- Verify: “Expert Advisors enabled” in Terminal → Experts tab.
Incorrect symbol or timeframe
- Fix: Use a matching optimization set for your chart (e.g., DAX M5 with DAX M5 set).
- Download: Latest Optimization Sets
Outside trading hours
- Fix: Check UseTimeWindow, StartTradingHour, StopTradingHour.
- Example: DAX presets often trade 10:00–18:00 only.
All signals disabled / no qualifying pattern
- Fix: Ensure at least one of useBu1..3 / useBe1..3 is true.
- Note: In ranging markets, valid patterns may be rare.

🚨 Lot Size Calculation Issues (RISK!)

Symptoms: Positions much larger/smaller than expected; unusual risk exposure.

Immediate actions:

Update BananaEA to {{ variables.productionVersion }} or later (contains critical risk sizing fixes).
- Verify version in Experts tab on attach.
Validate broker specs (contract size, digits, tick value).
- Test on demo with micro-lots and confirm that risk math matches expectations.
Check Risk Method & inputs
- RISK_PERCENT: confirm RiskPercent (e.g., 1–2%).
- RISK_FIXED_LOT: confirm LotSize (e.g., 0.01–0.10 to start).
- RISK_FIXED_AMOUNT: confirm RiskAmount (e.g., $50–$250).

⚡ Quick Fixes (5-Minute Solutions)

No Chart Arrows Appearing

Problem: EA trades (or scans) but no visual marks on chart.

Fixes:

Signal source
```
SignalSourceType = INTERNAL_SIGNALS   // built-in patterns
```
If EXTERNAL_INDICATOR, you must set BananaIndicatorName and have it in /Indicators.

Verify pattern toggles

useBu1=true, useBu2=true, useBu3=true
useBe1=true, useBe2=true, useBe3=true

Enable debug (temporary)
```
ShowDebugLogs = true
```
Check Experts tab for detection messages.

Orders Not Executing

Problem: Signals appear but no trades open.

Fixes:

Insufficient margin: reduce lot size / increase equity.
Spread too wide: wait for normal spread or adjust MaxSpread.
Market closed / session off: wait for open, confirm trading window.
Max trades reached: compare MaxOpenTrades vs open positions.

Constant Order Modifications

Problem: SL updates every tick.

Fixes:

TrailMinimumMovement = 1.0   // avoid micro-trailing
UseTrailingStop      = false // disable trailing if not needed

🧠 Strategy Preset Issues

Wrong Configuration for Market

Problem: Using a preset not designed for your symbol/timeframe.

Action: Load a matching preset or download a tested set:

DAX M5 → DAX M5 set (flagship)
DAX H1 → DAX H1 swing
NAS100 M5 → NAS100 M5 momentum
GOLD M5 → GOLD M5 volatility
Forex H1 → 6-market portfolio set

Download: Latest Optimization Sets

Configuration Not Working as Expected

Checklist:

Experts tab: confirm the EA prints applied parameters.
Inputs tab: verify values match your preset.
Timeframe: ensure preset timeframe = chart timeframe.
Update preset: download the current set for your market.

Common mistakes: using DAX sets on Forex, expecting instant trades, using aggressive risk on small accounts.

🛡️ Risk Management Issues

Position Sizes Too Large/Small

Solutions by Risk Method:

1) RISK_PERCENT (recommended)

RiskMethod   = RISK_PERCENT
RiskPercent  = 1.0   // 1% per trade

On $10,000, 1% = $100 risk per trade. Lot size is auto-calculated.

2) RISK_FIXED_LOT

RiskMethod = RISK_FIXED_LOT
LotSize    = 0.10    // same size every trade

3) RISK_FIXED_AMOUNT

RiskMethod = RISK_FIXED_AMOUNT
RiskAmount = 100     // $100 per trade risk

Daily Drawdown Alerts

Problem: EA halts due to daily loss limit.

UseDailyDrawdownControl = true
DailyDrawdownPercent    = 5.0    // stop at 5% daily loss

Options:

Increase limit (≤ 10% recommended)
Temporarily disable (not advised)
Wait for reset (midnight server time)

🛠️ Technical Issues

“Trade context is busy”

Cause: MT4 server load.

Fixes: wait and retry (EA retries automatically); switch to backup server; reduce trailing frequency (TrailMinimumMovement).

Order Send Failures — Error Codes

Code

Meaning

Solution

130

Invalid stops

Ensure SL/TP meet broker min distances

131

Invalid trade volume

Lot size outside broker min/max — adjust

132

Market closed

Wait for session open

133

Trading disabled

Enable AutoTrading

134

Not enough money

Reduce risk/lot or add funds

136

Off quotes

Refresh rates and retry

138

Requote

Normal — EA will retry

Performance (MT4 lagging)

Fixes:

ShowDebugLogs = false   // disable verbose logging live
ShowPanel     = false   // optional, reduce panel refresh

Reduce excessive chart objects/indicators if needed.

📡 Signal Detection Issues

No Buy/Sell Signals

Diagnostics:

Market conditions: Banana patterns prefer momentum/trend. Ranging markets = fewer signals.

MA filters too strict?

UseMAFilter=true
// Temporarily relax for testing:
// MAPeriod=20, MAMethod=EMA

Enable all signal types (test)

useBu1=true; useBu2=true; useBu3=true
useBe1=true; useBe2=true; useBe3=true

Too Many Signals

Solutions:

Enable MA filters to trade with trend.
Use Conservative / Low Drawdown preset.

Add a time window to avoid low-quality hours:

UseTimeWindow   = true
StartTradingHour= 8
StopTradingHour = 16

🔁 Order Management Issues

Pending Orders Keep Getting Cancelled

Causes & fixes:

Expiry after bars

UseCancelAfterBars = true
CancelAfterBars    = 5  // increase or set false to disable

Session close cancellation

CancelPendingsAtSessionClose = true
PendingCancelHour            = 20 // adjust or disable

Opposite signal cancellation

CancelOnOppositeSignal = true  // set false to keep original orders

Multiple Trades in Same Direction

Understanding:

AllowMultipleTrades = true  // scaling enabled
MaxOpenTrades       = 3

To restrict: set AllowMultipleTrades=false and/or lower MaxOpenTrades.

🎯 Performance Optimization

Improve win rate:

Use tested presets (don’t free-hand everything).
Ensure SL/TP ratios are aligned with your preset.
Trade symbols/timeframes your preset was designed for.
Avoid low-liquidity hours; use the session window.

Beginner starter (manual config alternative):

RiskMethod      = RISK_PERCENT
RiskPercent     = 1.0
UseBreakEven    = true
UseTrailingStop = true

Conservative profile (reduce drawdown):

RiskPercent              = 0.5
UseDailyDrawdownControl  = true
DailyDrawdownPercent     = 3.0
AllowMultipleTrades      = false

🧩 Quick Reference Commands

Emergency Actions

F7       // Enable/disable AutoTrading (or click toolbar button)
Ctrl+E   // Expert properties (settings)
Ctrl+I   // Chart properties

Log File Locations

Windows  : %APPDATA%\MetaQuotes\Terminal\[BROKER]\logs\
Common   : C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\[ID]\logs\

Reset EA to Defaults

Remove EA from chart
Recompile in MetaEditor
Re-attach with factory settings
Load a tested preset for your timeframe/symbol

📞 Getting Additional Help

Gather before contacting support:

EA version (Experts tab on attach)
MT4 build (Help → About)
Broker name / account type
Exact error messages from Experts tab
Screenshots of Inputs and Experts/Journal

Self-help resources:

Docs: https://itradeaims.gitbook.io/banana-ea
Optimization Sets: https://my.itradeaims.net/latest-optimization-sets/
Website: https://itradeaims.net

Support channels:

Discord community (fastest)
Email: info@itradeaims.net

Last Updated: October 4, 2025 EA Version (Docs): {{ variables.productionVersion }}

Remember: Most issues come from mismatched parameters, not EA bugs. When in doubt, load a tested preset and change one setting at a time.

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