upon closer inspection it appears that what I have IS working and behaving exactly like a stop loss.

when I add this to it...

if(AccountEquity()+8<AccountBalance())

it behaves exactly like a stop loss at 8


so at least I've done the code right for once eh? Sadlly it's not producing the effect I wanted in the EA. It's messing with the winners who need the stop loss wider to work too. victory and defeat all at the same time...ok so be it.