Indicator Overview
What is Edge Finder?
Edge Finder is a professional scalping indicator designed specifically for SPY, QQQ, ES, and NQ on 3-minute and 5-minute timeframes. It combines multiple confirmation systems to identify high-probability trade entries while filtering out low-quality setups during choppy market conditions.
Key Components
Generates CALL and PUT signals based on multi-factor confirmation including trend, momentum, volume, and price action analysis.
Real-time scoring system that classifies market direction as Long, Short, or Neutral with confidence levels.
Live dashboard displaying entry quality, MTF alignment, momentum indicators, and risk assessment.
Automatic plotting of HOD/LOD, PDH/PDL, and PD2H/PD2L with customizable zones.
Supported Instruments
Default multiplier: 1.0x
ATR multiplier: 1.2x
ATR multiplier: 0.9x
ATR multiplier: 1.3x
This indicator is optimized for 3-minute and 5-minute charts. Using it on higher timeframes will produce fewer signals, while lower timeframes may generate excessive noise.
Buy/Sell Signal Engine
CALL & PUT Signals
The signal engine evaluates 12+ factors before generating a CALL or PUT signal. Signals only fire when all required conditions align, ensuring high-quality entries. Each signal includes automatic TP/SL levels based on ATR.
Requirements: Bullish EMA stack (9 > 21 > 50), HTF confirmation (5m/15m bullish), ADX > 25 with +DI dominance, volume > 1.5x average, RSI 40-70, price above VWAP, no bearish divergence.
Triggers: Pullback to EMA21/VWAP, MACD bull cross, bullish engulfing, or strong bull candle with volume spike.
Requirements: Bearish EMA stack (9 < 21 < 50), HTF confirmation (5m/15m bearish), ADX > 25 with -DI dominance, volume > 1.5x average, RSI 30-60, price below VWAP, no bullish divergence.
Triggers: Rally to EMA21/VWAP resistance, MACD bear cross, bearish engulfing, or strong bear candle with volume spike.
Signal Requirements Breakdown
- Trend Alignment: EMA 9 > 21 > 50 for calls, 9 < 21 < 50 for puts
- HTF Confirmation: 5-minute and 15-minute trends must align with signal direction
- ADX > 25: Confirms strong trending conditions (not choppy)
- DMI Alignment: +DI > -DI for calls, -DI > +DI for puts
- Volume Confirmation: Current volume must exceed 1.5x the 20-period average
- RSI Filter: RSI 40-70 for calls (healthy), RSI 30-60 for puts
- VWAP Position: Price above VWAP for calls, below for puts
- No Divergence: No opposing RSI divergence present
- Volatility OK: ATR within normal range (not extreme)
- Session Filter: Trading during optimal hours (if enabled)
TP/SL Levels
When "Show TP/SL Levels" is enabled, the indicator automatically plots profit targets and stop losses:
| Level | Calculation | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| Take Profit | ATR(14) × 2.0 × Instrument Mult | Green dashed line (CALL) / Red dashed line (PUT) |
| Stop Loss | ATR(14) × 1.0 × Instrument Mult | Red dashed line (CALL) / Green dashed line (PUT) |
| Entry | Signal close price | White dotted line |
Signal Sensitivity Modes
Min Volume: 1.3x
More signals
Min Volume: 1.5x
Balanced
Min Volume: 1.8x
Fewer, higher quality
Signals fire on bar close confirmation only. This prevents false signals from intrabar price spikes. Wait for the candle to close before entering.
Directional Bias System
Real-Time Bias Detection
The Directional Bias (DB) system analyzes 30+ market factors in real-time to determine the current market direction. Unlike simple signals, DB provides continuous feedback about market conditions, helping you stay on the right side of the trade.
Bias Classifications
Bias Scoring Factors
The system assigns points based on these categories:
Body percentage, consecutive green/red candles, doji detection, large vs small candles, wick analysis.
EMA 9/21/50 stack, price position relative to EMAs, EMA slope momentum, triple timeframe alignment.
Above/below VWAP, VWAP slope direction, reclaim signals, rejection signals, bounce detection.
Volume ratio vs 20-period average, volume spikes, climactic volume detection, exhaustion signals.
RSI position and momentum, MACD histogram direction and crosses, bullish/bearish delta.
5-minute and 15-minute trend alignment, HTF boost/conflict detection.
Bull trap and bear trap identification, failed breakout detection.
Prime hours bonus, lunch chop penalty, opening drive boost.
Bias Modes
| Mode | Threshold | High Conf | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive | 3.0 | 6.0 | Active scalping, more signals |
| Balanced | 4.5 | 8.0 | Standard trading (default) |
| Selective | 6.0 | 10.0 | Higher quality, fewer signals |
| Sniper | 8.0 | 12.0 | Only best setups |
Bias Filters
- VWAP Alignment: Requires price alignment with VWAP for bias confirmation
- EMA Trend: EMA 9/21 must confirm bias direction
- Higher Timeframe: 5m/15m trend must align
- Volume Confirm: Volume must be above minimum threshold
- Chop Filter: Blocks signals during ranging/choppy conditions
- Trap Detection: Identifies and penalizes trap scenarios
Important: Exhaustion Detection
The system automatically detects climactic exhaustion (volume spike + extended move + rejection wick) and will invalidate Long/Short bias even if score is high. This prevents entering at tops/bottoms.
Scalping Dashboard
Real-Time Analysis Dashboard
The scalping dashboard provides a real-time overview of market conditions, entry quality, multi-timeframe alignment, and risk assessment. It helps you quickly determine whether current conditions favor taking a trade.
Dashboard Preview
Dashboard Metrics Explained
| Metric | Description | Good Values |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Quality | Composite score (0-100) based on MTF, VWAP, volume, ADX, session | ≥70% = GO, 50-70% = OK |
| VWAP | Distance from VWAP as percentage | Above for longs, below for shorts |
| Volume | Current volume / 20-period average | >1.2x = Good, >2.0x = Spike |
| ADX | Trend strength indicator | >25 = Trending, >40 = Strong |
| Risk | Current risk assessment | NORMAL = Green light |
| MTF | 5m, 15m, 30m trend alignment | All aligned = Best |
Entry Quality Scoring
- MTF Aligned: 5m and 15m trends match
- VWAP + Trend: Price position matches trend direction
- Volume Good: Volume ratio > 1.2x
- ADX Trending: ADX > 25
- Not Choppy: Market not ranging
- Prime Session: Opening drive or power hour
- BB Width OK: Bollinger width 1.5-4%
Risk Level Classifications
Dashboard Styles
Essential metrics only
15 rows
All momentum indicators
28 rows
Key Levels
Automatic Level Plotting
Key levels act as support and resistance zones where price often reacts. The indicator automatically plots previous day highs/lows and current day extremes, helping you identify optimal entry and exit points.
Available Levels
| Level | Color | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOD / LOD | Cyan | Today's High/Low of Day | Breakout targets, reversal zones |
| PDH / PDL | Yellow | Previous Day High/Low | Major S/R, gap fills |
| PD2H / PD2L | Purple | 2-Day Prior High/Low | Extended range targets |
Level Display Options
- Show Zones: Displays shaded zones around levels (±20 ticks default)
- Zone Thickness: Adjustable from 5 to 100 ticks
- Line Styles: Solid, Dashed, or Dotted for HOD/LOD
- Market Hours Only: Hide levels outside 9:30-4:00 ET
Trading with Key Levels
Identify Approach
Watch for price approaching a key level. The indicator highlights when price is within ATR×0.3 of PDH/PDL.
Look for Reaction
First touch often produces a bounce or rejection. Large wick at level = strong reaction.
Breakout Confirmation
If price breaks and closes beyond level, it becomes support (for breaks up) or resistance (breaks down).
Use as Targets
PDH/PDL make excellent profit targets. Partial at first level, full at next.
The indicator generates alerts when price touches or breaks key levels. Enable "Level Breaks" alerts to get notified of significant moves.
Bar Color System
Directional Bias Bar Coloring
When Directional Bias is enabled, bars are colored based on the current bias classification. This provides instant visual feedback about market direction without needing to check the dashboard.
Bar Color Meanings
Interpreting Bar Colors
Strong bullish momentum. Look for long entries on pullbacks. Avoid shorting.
Strong bearish momentum. Look for short entries on rallies. Avoid going long.
Direction is changing. Be cautious. Wait for new trend confirmation before entry.
No clear bias. Best to wait or reduce position size. Market is choppy.
High Confidence Colors
Blue (HC Long) and Purple (HC Short) bars indicate strongest conviction. These occur when score exceeds the High Confidence threshold and all major factors align. Best opportunities for aggressive entries.
Filters & Sessions
Signal Quality Filters
Bias Filters
| Filter | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| VWAP Alignment | ON | Requires price above VWAP for longs, below for shorts |
| EMA Trend | ON | Requires EMA 9/21 alignment with bias direction |
| Higher Timeframe | ON | Requires 5m/15m trend confirmation |
| Volume Confirm | ON | Blocks signals when volume extremely low |
| Chop Filter | ON | Blocks signals during ranging conditions |
| Trap Detection | ON | Penalizes bull/bear trap patterns |
Session Filter
When enabled, CALL/PUT signals only fire during optimal trading sessions:
9:35 AM - 11:00 AM ET
High volatility, strong trends. Best signal quality.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM ET
Renewed momentum. Second-best session.
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM ET
Decent opportunities before lunch.
Session Classifications (Dashboard)
| Session | Time (ET) | Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Range | 9:30 - 9:45 | ⚠️ Wait | Let range establish |
| Opening Drive 🔥 | 9:45 - 10:30 | ✓ Prime | Best opportunities |
| Morning Session | 10:30 - 12:00 | ✓ Good | Trends continue |
| Lunch Chop ⚠️ | 12:00 - 1:30 | ✗ Avoid | Low volume, choppy |
| Afternoon | 1:30 - 2:00 | ◐ Fair | Pre-power hour |
| Power Hour 🔥 | 2:00 - 3:00 | ✓ Prime | Renewed momentum |
| Closing Drive | 3:00 - 4:00 | ✓ Good | Strong moves possible |
Keep Session Filter ON when starting. It dramatically improves signal quality by avoiding the unpredictable lunch hours.
Alerts
Alert Configuration
The indicator provides 16 different alert conditions that can be configured in TradingView's alert system. Enable only the alerts you need to avoid notification fatigue.
Signal Alerts
| Alert | Trigger | Message Format |
|---|---|---|
| CALL Signal | CALL signal fires | 🟢 CALL | {ticker} | {interval} | {close} |
| PUT Signal | PUT signal fires | 🔴 PUT | {ticker} | {interval} | {close} |
| Any Signal | Either signal fires | {ticker} | {interval} | {close} |
Directional Bias Alerts
| Alert | Trigger | Message Format |
|---|---|---|
| DB Long | Bias changes to Long | 🟢 DB LONG | {ticker} | {close} |
| DB Short | Bias changes to Short | 🔴 DB SHORT | {ticker} | {close} |
| DB HC Long | High Confidence Long | 🔵 DB HC LONG | {ticker} | {close} |
| DB HC Short | High Confidence Short | 🟣 DB HC SHORT | {ticker} | {close} |
Trap & Level Alerts
| Alert | Trigger | Message Format |
|---|---|---|
| Bull Trap | Bull trap detected | ⚠️ BULL TRAP | {ticker} | {close} |
| Bear Trap | Bear trap detected | ⚠️ BEAR TRAP | {ticker} | {close} |
| New HOD | Price makes new high | 📈 NEW HIGH OF DAY | {ticker} | {high} |
| New LOD | Price makes new low | 📉 NEW LOW OF DAY | {ticker} | {low} |
| PDH Touch | Price touches PDH | 🟡 PDH TOUCHED | {ticker} | {close} |
| PDL Touch | Price touches PDL | 🟡 PDL TOUCHED | {ticker} | {close} |
Setting Up Alerts in TradingView
Open Alert Dialog
Right-click on chart → "Add Alert" or press Alt+A
Select Condition
Choose "Edge Finder [Scalping-Pro]" from dropdown, then select alert type
Configure Notification
Enable popup, email, webhook, or mobile notification as needed
Set Expiration
Choose "Open-ended" for permanent alerts or set specific duration
Complete Settings Reference
⚙️ Master Controls
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Auto | Auto-detect or manually select SPY/QQQ/ES/NQ |
| Market Session Filter | ON | Only show signals during market hours |
🎯 Signal Engine
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Buy/Sell Signals | ON | Master toggle for CALL/PUT signals |
| Signal Sensitivity | Normal | Aggressive / Normal / Conservative |
| Show TP/SL Levels | ON | Display profit target and stop loss lines |
📈 Directional Bias
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Directional Bias | ON | Master toggle for DB system |
| Bias Mode | Balanced | Aggressive / Balanced / Selective / Sniper |
| VWAP Alignment | ON | Require VWAP confirmation |
| EMA Trend | ON | Require EMA trend alignment |
| Higher Timeframe | ON | Require HTF confirmation |
| Volume Confirm | ON | Block low-volume signals |
| Chop Filter | ON | Block choppy market signals |
| Trap Detection | ON | Detect and penalize traps |
| Prime Hours Only | ON | DB only active during prime sessions |
| Show Transitions | ON | Highlight direction changes |
📐 Key Levels
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HOD/LOD (Today) | OFF | Show current day's high/low |
| PDH/PDL (Yesterday) | OFF | Show previous day's high/low |
| PD2H/PD2L (2 Days) | OFF | Show 2-day prior high/low |
| Show Zones | ON | Display shaded zones around levels |
| Zone Size | 20 ticks | Width of zone shading (5-100) |
| HOD/LOD Style | Dashed | Line style: Solid / Dashed / Dotted |
| Market Hours Only | ON | Only show levels during RTH |
📊 Dashboard
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enable Dashboard | ON | Master toggle for dashboard |
| Position | Top Right | Dashboard location on chart |
| Size | Normal | Small / Normal / Large text |
| Style | Compact | Compact / Detailed view |
🎨 Colors
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Call/Long | #00E676 | Bullish signal color |
| Put/Short | #FF1744 | Bearish signal color |
| DB Long | #00E676 | Bias long bar color |
| DB Short | #FF1744 | Bias short bar color |
| HC Long | #2962FF | High confidence long |
| HC Short | #AA00FF | High confidence short |
| Transition | #FFEB3B | Direction change color |
| Neutral | #787B86 | No bias color |
Trading Workflow
Step-by-Step Trading Process
Check Session
Look at dashboard header. Is it a prime session (Opening Drive 🔥 or Power Hour 🔥)? If "LUNCH CHOP ⚠️", consider waiting.
Read Overall Bias
Dashboard shows LONG, SHORT, or NEUTRAL. Confidence bar shows strength. Only trade in bias direction.
Check Entry Quality
Entry score ≥70% = GO. 50-70% = proceed with caution. Below 50% = wait for better setup.
Verify MTF Alignment
All timeframes (5m, 15m, 30m) should show same direction. "ALIGNED LONG/SHORT" is ideal.
Check Risk Level
Risk should show "NORMAL". If "HIGH" or "ELEVATED", reduce size or skip trade.
Wait for Signal
Let CALL or PUT signal fire. Don't anticipate. Signal confirms all conditions met.
Execute with TP/SL
Enter on signal. Use indicated TP/SL levels. TP = 2× ATR, SL = 1× ATR (2:1 R/R).
Monitor Bar Colors
If bars turn yellow (transition) or gray (neutral), consider tightening stop or taking partial profit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Trading against the bias (shorting green bars, buying red bars)
• Entering during lunch chop session
• Ignoring Entry Quality score below 50%
• Chasing after price has already moved significantly
• Not waiting for candle close confirmation
• Start with Balanced mode and Normal sensitivity
• Keep all filters ON until you understand each one
• Use Dashboard Compact style for faster decisions
• Set alerts for HC Long/Short for best opportunities
• Paper trade for at least 1 week before going live