Exp_ColorSchaffDeMarkerTrendCycle
This EA trades based on the ColorSchaffDeMarkerTrendCycle custom indicator, which combines fast and slow DeMarker oscillators with a cyclical trend component. It opens buy positions when the indicator transitions from a downtrend color zone to an uptrend zone, and sell positions on the reverse transition, with configurable stop-loss and take-profit levels.
Open the interactive view (equity curve, symbol switch)Key facts
Backtest results (H1, about 1 year)
Not backtested yet — this EA could not be converted automatically.
Strategy analysis
The strategy concept is based on the Schaff Trend Cycle indicator, which integrates dual DeMarker oscillators (fast period 23 and slow period 50) with a cyclical trend component (period 10) to identify trend direction. Entry conditions: a buy position opens when the indicator color buffer value is above 5 (uptrend confirmed) and the previous value is below 6 (just transitioned from non-uptrend); a sell position opens when the color buffer value is below 2 (downtrend confirmed) and the previous value is above 1 (just transitioned from non-downtrend). Exit conditions rely on fixed stop-loss (1000 points) and take-profit (2000 points) settings, while opposing signals also trigger closing of corresponding positions (e.g., uptrend signal closes sell positions). Position sizing is controlled by the MM parameter with a default of 0.1, supporting five money management modes: free margin, balance, loss-based free margin, loss-based balance, and fixed lot size. Money management is implemented through standardized functions in the TradeAlgorithms.mqh library for opening and closing buy/sell positions, with slippage deviation control. The strategy defaults to H4 timeframe and uses SignalBar=1, meaning it evaluates the previously closed bar's signal to avoid repainting issues.
Strengths
- Dual DeMarker oscillators combined with cyclical trend component provide smoothed signals that reduce false entries
- Five money management modes offer flexibility for traders with different risk preferences
- Using SignalBar=1 based on closed bar signals avoids repainting and prevents false entries from unrealized values
- Independent buy/sell open/close switches allow one-directional trading or signal-only closing strategies
- New bar detection mechanism (IsNewBar) prevents redundant position openings within the same bar
Weaknesses
- Default SL=1000 and TP=2000 points are excessively large for many instruments, and there is no dynamic stop-loss mechanism
- No spread filter is implemented, which could impact performance on high-spread instruments even on H4 timeframe
- The EA relies on iCustom to call an external custom indicator, requiring the indicator file to be present at deployment, increasing maintenance complexity
- The strategy lacks market volatility adaptability, with fixed parameters likely performing very differently across varying market conditions
- No maximum position limit or drawdown control, which could lead to over-exposure on consecutive signals
Possible improvements
- Add ATR-based dynamic stop-loss and take-profit to replace fixed point values, adapting to different market volatility regimes
- Implement maximum concurrent position limits and account drawdown protection to prevent over-exposure in extreme market conditions
- Add spread and volatility filters to avoid entering trades during high-spread or low-liquidity periods
Risk assessment
Overall risk: Medium
- Fixed stop-loss and take-profit values are very large and may not effectively limit risk on all instruments
- No maximum position limit or drawdown protection, consecutive signals could lead to over-exposure
- Dependency on external custom indicator file; if missing, the EA fails to initialize
Evaluation scores
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
MM | 0.1 | Money management parameter controlling position size |
MMMode | LOT | Lot calculation mode (fixed lot or margin ratio) |
StopLoss_ | 1000 | Stop loss in points |
TakeProfit_ | 2000 | Take profit in points |
Deviation_ | 10 | Maximum allowed slippage |
BuyPosOpen | true | Allow opening long positions |
SellPosOpen | true | Allow opening short positions |
BuyPosClose | true | Allow closing long positions |
SellPosClose | true | Allow closing short positions |
InpInd_Timeframe | PERIOD_H4 | Indicator calculation timeframe |
Fast_DeMarker | 23 | Fast DeMarker period |
Slow_DeMarker | 50 | Slow DeMarker period |
Cycle | 10 | Trend cycle period |
HighLevel | +60 | High threshold level |
LowLevel | -60 | Low threshold level |
SignalBar | 1 | Bar index for signal detection |
Similar Momentum EAs
Backtests are historical simulations and do not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.