GridMaster EA Setup Guide
GridMaster requires more careful configuration than trend-following EAs due to the nature of grid trading. This guide helps you set up safely.
Critical: Capital Requirements
Grid trading requires sufficient capital. Minimum recommendations:
| Grid Levels | Min Account | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 3 levels | $200 | $300 |
| 5 levels | $300 | $500 |
| 7 levels | $500 | $1,000 |
| 10 levels | $1,000 | $2,000 |
Safe Default Settings
GridSizePips = 20
GridLevels = 5
TakeProfitPips = 20
StartLotSize = 0.01
LotMultiplier = 1.0 (no multiplication = safest)
MaxOpenPositions = 10
MaxTotalLots = 0.5
MaxDrawdownPercent = 20
EquityProtectionPercent = 70
CloseOnFriday = true
FridayCloseHour = 20
Settings by Risk Profile
Conservative (Recommended for Beginners)
GridSizePips = 25
GridLevels = 3
LotMultiplier = 1.0
MaxDrawdownPercent = 15
MaxOpenPositions = 6
Moderate
GridSizePips = 20
GridLevels = 5
LotMultiplier = 1.0
MaxDrawdownPercent = 20
MaxOpenPositions = 10
Aggressive (Experienced Only)
GridSizePips = 15
GridLevels = 7
LotMultiplier = 1.2
MaxDrawdownPercent = 30
MaxOpenPositions = 14
Best Pairs for Grid Trading
| Pair | Grid Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 20 pips | Tight spreads, ranges well |
| USD/CHF | 20 pips | Mean-reverting, tight spreads |
| EUR/GBP | 15 pips | Low volatility range pair |
| AUD/NZD | 15 pips | Tight historical range |
Avoid: GBP/JPY, volatile exotic pairs — risk of extended trends
Safety Features Explained
- MaxDrawdownPercent (20%): If account drawdown reaches 20%, no new grid orders are placed
- EquityProtectionPercent (70%): If equity drops below 70% of balance, ALL positions close
- MaxTotalLots (0.5): Total combined lot size across all open orders never exceeds this
- CloseOnFriday: Closes all positions before weekend to avoid gap risk
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using grid too tight for the pair’s volatility
- Running multiple grid EAs on correlated pairs
- Using lot multiplier > 1.0 without understanding the risk
- Insufficient capital for the number of grid levels
- Not enabling weekend close protection
Grid trading involves significant risk including large potential drawdowns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Full disclaimer