electrum 4.0.3 error when sending lightning node payment

[profullstack]

Here's the error I get:

Code:

The server returned an error when broadcasting the transaction.
Consider trying to connect to a different server, or updating Electrum.

scriptpubkey

Here's the address: 02bb10aaa77a95a358cebb2d112c4de00e47c08f56e89b1acb4487ddd44cc98d6d

its for microlancer.io

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

I will suggest to remove the current version and then go to https://electrum.org/#download and download the new file. Make sure you verify the file before installing it for your safety.

Update:
Just noticed this

Here's the address: 02bb10aaa77a95a358cebb2d112c4de00e47c08f56e89b1acb4487ddd44cc98d6d

its for microlancer.io

This is not a bitcoin address as far as I know. Please double check your address. Are they saying any other coin?

[profullstack]

I will suggest to remove the current version and then go to https://electrum.org/#download and download the new file. Make sure you verify the file before installing it for your safety.

Update:
Just noticed this

Here's the address: 02bb10aaa77a95a358cebb2d112c4de00e47c08f56e89b1acb4487ddd44cc98d6d

its for microlancer.io

This is not a bitcoin address as far as I know. Please double check your address. Are they saying any other coin?

I just downloaded it yesterday. Its a lightning node address. (i thought)

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

I just downloaded it yesterday. Its a lightning node address. (i thought)

I see and in this case I have no idea since I am yet to use LN. Hopefully someone else will assist you in this issue.

[Rath_]

Here's the address: 02bb10aaa77a95a358cebb2d112c4de00e47c08f56e89b1acb4487ddd44cc98d6d

It's neither an address nor an invoice. It's a node id which points to microlancer.io's Lightning Network node. You need to get a payment invoice from them if you want to pay them over the Lightning Network. Do you have any open channels?

[profullstack]

no. i realized i have to show channels tab, but I get an error when I try to open a channel to microlancer.io

Code:

Could not open channel: Exception('funding_sat too low: 100000 < 200000')

I'm trying to send 1 mBtc and a 1.00 USD fee

[Rath_]

no. i realized i have to show channels tab, but I get an error when I try to open a channel to microlancer.io

The minimum funding value for all channels is 0.002 BTC (Electrum limitation). You need to pay for an on-chain transaction in order to open a channel. If you open a direct channel with microlancer then all Lightning payments to them will be feeless. Note that you will not be able to spend your whole channel's balance. You can learn more about Lightning Network support in Electrum from this thread.

[Husna QA]

no. i realized i have to show channels tab, but I get an error when I try to open a channel to microlancer.io

Code:

Could not open channel: Exception('funding_sat too low: 100000 < 200000')

-snip-

Have you opened a channel with the value ranges listed above?
Maybe the following video tutorials can be useful before using Electrum Lightning:
Electrum Lightning Demo

[profullstack]

no. i realized i have to show channels tab, but I get an error when I try to open a channel to microlancer.io

Code:

Could not open channel: Exception('funding_sat too low: 100000 < 200000')

-snip-

Have you opened a channel with the value ranges listed above?
Maybe the following video tutorials can be useful before using Electrum Lightning:
Electrum Lightning Demo

yes i tried 1mbtc and 2mbtc and get the same error.

[Rath_]

yes i tried 1mbtc and 2mbtc and get the same error.

That's not possible. I have just tried opening a 2 mBTC channel with microlancer and I was asked to sign the funding transaction. Are you sure that you put 02bb10aaa77a95a358cebb2d112c4de00e47c08f56e89b1acb4487ddd44cc98d6d in the "Remote Node ID"?

[profullstack]

weird. i tried again with 2mbtc and it opened. i guess 1.5 wasn't enough?

[Rath_]

weird. i tried again with 2mbtc and it opened. i guess 1.5 wasn't enough?

No, it wasn't. 1.5 mBTC is 150000 sat which is still less than 200000 sat required by Electrum. Your channel should become active after 3 confirmations.

[HCP]

Your channel should become active after 3 confirmations.

Note that this might take a while at the current time, as the network is quite busy again with 40,000+ unconfirmed transactions

[profullstack]

i got 2 confirmations already. I paid a 12% fee which kind of defeats the purpose of lightning node doesn't it?

[Rath_]

i got 2 confirmations already. I paid a 12% fee which kind of defeats the purpose of lightning node doesn't it?

Well, that depends. You could have paid a smaller fee and waited longer or opened a channel when the fees were much lower.

There is no point in opening a channel if you intend to make few transactions. If you opened a 20 mBTC channel with the same fee and sent a dozen of transactions, it would be cost-effective.

[profullstack]

i thought 2mbtc was the max for a channel?

also is it possible to add more money to an open channel later? I treid doing this in Zap wallet and it didn't seem to work

[Rath_]

i thought 2mbtc was the max for a channel?

The maximum channel size is about 0.167 BTC. However, some implementations already allow node operators to lift this limitation so that they can open as big channels as they want.

also is it possible to add more money to an open channel later? I treid doing this in Zap wallet and it didn't seem to work

You cannot increase the size of the channel after you fund it. It is called splicing-in but this feature is not available yet. You can use third-party services to "refill" your channel. Electrum has such a functionality built-in. Those services simply send coins over the Lightning Network to one of your channels so that the funds locked up in the channel shift back to your side from the other party's side.

[profullstack]

so if i have a small amount in my channel like 5 satoshis or something, should I just close the channel and then open a new one?


would i get the remaining balance back if I close a channel or are those sats gone forever?

[Rath_]

so if i have a small amount in my channel like 5 satoshis or something, should I just close the channel and then open a new one?

You can either close the channel and open a new one or use refill services which I described above.

would i get the remaining balance back if I close a channel or are those sats gone forever?

If the remaining balance is lower than the dust limit (546 sat) then those sats are added to the closing transaction fee.

[nc50lc]

also is it possible to add more money to an open channel later? I treid doing this in Zap wallet and it didn't seem to work

If you've sent enough funds and your channel tab shows "can receive x.xx BTC",
you can use "submarine swap" to increase your lightning funds up to the available inbound capacity.
To perform "swap" in Electrum, click the "swap" button and click the lightning logo or the BTC logo to switch them,
then fill-in the on-chain funds that you want to add to your lightning funds and complete the transaction.

Note: that will require an on-chain transaction and third-party service fee so it's not-so-different from opening a channel, moreover, it's more expensive.